JUNIVERSITY  <*  CALIFORNIA 


LOS 


OF       THE 

COUNTY 

O    F 

OR  P  F  ^  T  F  1R 
JlV    V>    JLj    O     A      ^*— «    JLVj 

IN  THE  COMMONWEALTH    OF 

MASSACHUSETTS: 

WITH     A 

Particular  Account  of  every  Town  from  its  firft  Settlement  to 
the  prefent  Time  ; 

Including  its  ECCLESIASTICAL    STATE, 

TOGETHER    WITH    A 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DESCRIPTION 

OF    THE    SAME. 
To  which  is  prefixed, 

A   MAP  OF  THE  COUNTY,  AT  LARGE," 

FROM  ACTUAL  SURVEY. 


.       BY    P  E  T  E  R    W  H  I  T  N  E  Y,    A.  M. 

Minifter  of  the  Gofpel  in  Northborougk,  in  faid  County, 
—•*•»»  »»  3  gH^^HD  6  CO  «««••-  ^ 

PRINTED  AT  WORCESTER,  MASSACHUSETTS, 
214 >\  BY    ISAIAH    THOMAS, 

Sold  by  him  in  WORCESTER,  by  faid  THOMAS- and  ANDREWS,  in  BOSTON,  and 
by  faid  THOMAS  and  CARLISLE,  in  WALPOLB,  Newhampfture, 


MDCCXCIII. 


;   H  T 

Y     SI     O     T     8     I     H 

Y       T       Tl       U       O       3 

• 

'#  ^  T  1  W 

^•f-^-    V...A  .'  T 

. 

' 

• 


TO 

f  L.L.D: 


(Biceprefinent  OF  THE  amtteu  States* 

AN  D 

OF  THE  American  3caUemp  01 
AND  g>cience    &c.  &c. 


THIS   HISTORY, 

INTENDED  TO  PROMOTE  THE  KNOWL 
EDGE  OF  A  PART  OF  HIS  NATIVE  COM 
MONWEALTH, 

IS   INSCRIBED, 

WITH  ALL  RESPECT, 

BY   HIS'MOST   OBEDIENT, 

AND  HUMBLE  SERVANT, 

PETER  WHITNEY. 

Northborough)  July,  1793. 


OT 


. 


REFACE. 


Author  of  the  following  Hiftory 
would  moji  willingly  have  been  excufedfrom  thefervice, 
had  any  other  perfon  appeared  to  have  undertaken  it. 
A  work  of  this  kind  was  wanted  :  The  author,  however 
unequal  Lo  the  tajk,  had  advantages  herefor  above  feme 
others,  being  born  in  the  wejlern  part,  and  having  the 
bounds  of  his  habitation  jixed  in  the  eajiern  part,  of  the 
county.  Had  the  writer  of  thefejheets  known  before  he 
legan,  what  a  labour  it  would  have  been,  he  would  not 
have  attempted  it,  but  having  begun,  he  was  unwilling 
to  defift,  and  has  been  urged  on  by  the  partiality  of  his 
friends.     However  difficult  the  collection  of  materials 
has  been,  yet  he  has  derived  a  fatisfattion  by  no  means 
fmall,  in  ranfacking  records,  fearching  into  tht  antiqui 
ties  of  this  part  of  the  country,  and  in  endeavouring  to 
gratify  his  readers  with  a  hijlory  thereof. 

The  locality  of  the  work  may  be  thought,  by  feme,  an 

objection  to  it.     But  to  have  compleated  a  hijlory  of  the 

Commonwealth,  upon  this  plan,  would  be  a  labour  too  great, 

and  too  lengthy  for  any  one,  unlefs  he  was  a  perfon  of 

fortune,  andfhould  devote  a  long  life  wholly  thereunto.  If 

•various  gentlemen,  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  would 

undertake  to  write  a  hiftory  of  their  particular  counties 

or  dijlritts,  upon  this,  or  a  better  plan,  we  might  then 

hope  to  fee  a  complete  hijlory  of  Mafachufetts  collected, 

which  would  be  not  merely  entertaining,  but  profitable 

and  injtruttive  from  age  to  age  ;  care  being  taken  to 

makefuch  alterations  in,  and  additions  to  the  work,  as 

•  time 


vi  PREFACE. 

time  would  occafion  :  Thefe  would  refpeft  tht  civil  and 
ccclcfiajlical  Jlate  of  the  counties,  their  population,  and 
their  improvements  in  arts  and  manufactures. 

The  greatejl  care  and  pains  have  been  taken  to  af- 
ctr  tain  exaft  dates,  where  it  was  pojjible.  Hence  towns 
and  churches  may  know  their  refpettive  ages,  if  at  any 
time  their  records  Jhould  be  unhappily  dcjlroyed.  The 
dates,  however,  are  all  infertcd  according  to  the  origin 
als  ;  and,  therefore,  the  reader,  in  order  to  know  when 
a  century  or  more  has  dapfed  from  the  date  of  any  event 
recorded  in  this  h'Jlory,  will  always  remember  to  add 
elevtn  days  thereto,  until  he  comes  down  to  the  zd  of 
September  1752,  when  New  Style,  fo  called,  took,  place* 
For  injlance,  if  a  town  was  incorporated  Augujl  i, 
1728,  it  mil  not  have  completed  a  full  century  until 
Augujl  12,  1828. 

The  author  of  this  work  has  endeavoured  to  be  im 
partial,  and  to  do  jujlice  to  every  town  in  its  defer  iption 
and  hiftory,  and  if  he  has  failed  hereof,  it  mujl  be  im 
puted  to  other  caufcs  than  any  particular  local  preju 
dices.  He  has  not  omitted  any  thing  worth  preserving, 
•which  has  come  to  his  knowledge. 

Many  and  too  great  defects  will,  moji  likely,  be  found 
by  difcerning  readers  of  this  hi/lory  ;  but  none,  how 
ever,  butfuch  as  their  candor  and  ingenuity  will  readily 
excufe  in  this  firjl  attempt  of  the  kind  ;  and  none  but 
what  may  be  remedied  in  time,  if  ever  a  future  edition 
Jhould  be  called  for.  And  pcrfons,  who  fold  defcfts  or 
mi/lakes,  or  fee  the  ncccffity  of  additions  or  alterations. 
are  reyucjtfd  candidly. to  point  them  out  to 

The  AUTHOR. 


ORNTA 


240 

172 


291 

12O 


INDEX  TO  THE  TOWNS,  &c. 


TOWNS. 

Spencer, 
Sterling, 
Sturbridge, 
Sutton, 
Templeton, 
Upton, 
Uxbridge, 
Ward, 

Weftborough, 
Weftern, 
Weftminfter, 
Winchendon, 
Worcefter, 
Woodftock, 
The  County, 
Courts  of  Common 
Pleas,  14 

Juftices  of,  ibid. 

Clerks  of,         46 

Sheriffs  of  the  County,  17 

Judges  of  Probate,     ibid. 

Regifters  of  Probate,     18 

Regifters  of  Deeds,  ibid. 

General  defcription 
of  the  County,          2O 

Reprefentatives    to 
Congrefs, 

Senators, 

Rivers, 

Minifters  Settled  and 
Removed,  32g 

Dates  of  Incorpora 
tion  of  Towns,      ibid. 

Number  of  Inhab 
itants,  ibid. 
Valuation  Lifts,         336 
The 


TOWNS. 

ASHBURNHAM, 

Pages. 
264 

Athol, 

24Q 

Barre, 

287 

Berlin, 

/ 

Bolton, 

177 

Brookfield, 

/     / 

62 

Boylfton, 

308 

Charlton, 

221 

Douglafs, 

203 

Dudley, 

151 

Fitchburg, 

252 

Gardner, 

306 

Gerry, 

3*5 

Grafton, 

166 

Hardwick, 

174 

Harvard, 

*54 

Holden, 

188 

Hubbardfton, 

281 

Lancafter, 

36 

Leicefter, 

99 

Leominfter, 

102 

Lunenburg, 

+s 

143 

Mendon, 

54 

Milford, 

v  * 
Q  O  Q 

Newbraintree, 

207 

Northborough, 

/ 

272 

Northbridge, 

285 

Oakliam, 

248 

Oxford, 

82 

axtbn, 

268 

Peterfham, 

215 

Princeton, 

\j 

232 

Royalfton, 

•*•  o 
26l 

Rutland, 

1OQ 

Shrewfbury, 
Southboiough, 

j.wy 

134 
130 

21 
22 


The  following  bang  omitted  in  its  proptr  place  at  the  end  of  the 
book,  is  here  infcrtcd. 

THE  proportion  of  Tax,  which  this  County  bears  to 
the  whole  State,  will  appear  by  fubjoining  the  fol 
lowing  account  of  what  each  county  pays  on  the 
thoufand,  with  its  number  of  polls,  agreeably  to 
the  laft  valuation. 


Counties. 

Polls. 

On  the  thouf. 

£•       *-         d.q. 

Suffolk, 

9884 

l62    12       O    1 

Effex, 

12376 

133  19     7  2 

Middlefex, 

10109 

104   13     4  2 

Hampfhire, 

*3912 

111   18    o  3 

Worcefter, 

13762 

127    15       O    2 

Barnftable, 

3759 

20  15  11  3 

Plymouth, 

691  2 

59     9     9  3 

Dukes  County, 

763 

5982 

Nantucket, 

1121 

^  13     3  * 

Briftol, 

6547 

53  19     63 

Berkfhire, 

6265 

52     3     3  3 

York, 

6484 

50     i     9  o 

Cumberland, 

5723 

43     6    5  2 

Lincoln, 

6349 

50  13  10  i 

Hancock, 

1967 

13     7     *  o 

Washington, 

493 

3110 

£1000  o    o  o 


THE 


THE 


HISTORY 

OF       THE 

COUNTY  OF  WORCESTER. 


THB    COUNTY, 

N  giving  a  hiflory  of  this  county,  it 
is  fitting  to  begin  with  a  recital  of 
the  Aft  of  the  General  Court  for 
forming  the  fame,  which  is  as  fol 
lows  : 

"  An  aft  for  erefting,  granting,  and  making  a 
county  in  the  inland  parts  of  this  province,  to  be 
called  The  County  of  Worcefter,  and  for  eftablifh- 
jng  Courts  of  Juftice  within  the  fame, 

B  "Be 


io  THE     C  O  U  N  T  Y. 

"  Be  it  enatled  by  his  Excellency  the  Gover 
nor,  Council,  and  Reprefentatives,  in  General 
Court  affembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  fame, 
That  the  towns  and  places  hereafter  named  and 
expreffed,  that  is  to  fay,  Worcefter,  Lancafter, 
Weftborough,  Shrewfbury,  Southborough,  Leicef- 
ter,  Rutland,  and  Lunenburgh,  all  in  the  county  of 
Middlefex  *  Mendon,  Woodftock,  Oxford,  Sutton, 
including  Haflfanamifco,  Uxbridge,  and  the  land 
lately  granted  to  feveral  petitioners  of  Medfield, 
all  in  the  county  of  Suffolk  ;  Brookfield  in  the 
county  of  Hampfhire,  and  the  fouth  town  laid  out 
to  the  Narraganfet  foldiers  ;  and  all  other  lands 
lying  within  the  faid  townfhips,  with  the  inhabit 
ants  thereon,  (hall,  from  and  after  the  tenth  day  of 
July,  which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
tboufand  feven  hundred  and  thirty  one,  be  and 
remain  one  entire  and  diftincl:  county,  by  the 
name  of  Worcefter,  of  which  Worcefter  to  be  the 
county,  or  mire  town  :  And  the  faid  county  to 
have,  ufe  and  enjoy,  all  fuch  powers,  privileges, 
and  immunilies,  as  by  law  other  counties  within 
this  province,  have  and  do  enjoy. 

"  And  be  it  enac"led  by  the  authority  aforefaid, 
that  there  mail  be  held  and  kept  within  the  faid 
county  of  Worcefter  yearly,  and  in  every  year,  at 
the  times  and  place  in  this  A61  hereafter  expreffed, 
a  Court  of  General  Seflions  of  the  Peace,  and  an 
Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  to  fit  at  Wor 
cefter,  on  the  i'ccond  Tuefdays  of  May  and  Auguft, 
and  the  firft  Tuefdays  of  November  and  February, 
yearly  and  in  every  year,  until  this  Court  fhall? 

other-wife 


E     COUNT  Y.  it 

otherwife  order  : — Alfo,  that  there  {hall  be  held 
and  kept  at  Worcefter,  within  the  faid  county  of 
Worcefler,  yearly  and  in  every  year,  until  this 
Court  fhall  otherwife  order,  a  Superior  Court  of 
Judicature,  Court  of  Aflize  and  General  Goal  De 
livery,  to  fit  on  the  Wednefday  immediately  pre 
ceding  the  time  by  law  appointed  for  the  holding 
the  faid  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  Court  of 
Aflize 'and  General  Goal  Delivery,  at  Springfield, 
within  and  for  the  county  of  Hampfhire  : — And 
the  Juftices  of  the  faid  Court  of  General  Seffions- 
of  the  Peace,  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
and  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  Court  of  Af- 
fize  and  General  Goal  Delivery  refpe&ively,  who 
are,  or  fhall  be,  thereunto  lawfully  commiffioned 
and  appointed,  fhall  have,  hold,  ufe,  exercife  and 
enjoy  all  and  fingular  the  powers  which  are  by 
law  given  and  granted  unto  them,  within  any  other 
counties  of  the  province,  where  a  Court  of  Gener 
al  Seffions  of  the  Peace,  Inferior  Court  of  Com 
mon  Pleas,  and  Superior  Court  of  Judicature, 
Court  of  Affize  and  General  Goal  Delivery,  are  al 
ready  eflablifhed. 

"  Provided,  That  all  writs,  fuits,  plaints,  proc- 
elfes,  appeals,  reviews,  recognizances,  or  any  other 
matters  or  things  which  now  are  or  any  time  be 
fore  the  faid  tenth  day  of  July,  fhall  be  depending 
in  the  law  within  any  part  of  the  faid  county  of 
Worceiler  : — And  alfo,  all  matters  and  things 
which  now  are,  or  at  any  time  before  the  faid  tenth 
of  July,  fhall  be  depending  before  the  Judges  of 
Probate  within  part  of  the  faid  county,  of  Worcef- 
B  2  ter, 


12  THE         C    O    U    N    T    Y. 

ter,  fhall  be  heard,  tried,  proceeded  upon  and  de 
termined  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Middlefex, 
and  Hampfhire  refpeftively,  where  the  fame  are  or 
fhall  be  returnable  or  depending,  and  have,  or 
ihall  have  day,  or  days. 

"  Provided  alfo,  That  nothing  in  this  aft  con 
tained,  fhall  be  conftrued  to  difannul,  defeat,  or 
make  void  any  deeds  or  conveyances  of  lands,  ly 
ing  in  the  faid  county  of  Worcefter,  where  the 
fame  are.  or  fhall  be,  before  the  faid  tenth  of  July, 
recorded  in  the  Regifter's  office  of  the  refpeclive 
counties  where  fuch  lands  do  now  lie  ;  but  that  all 
fuch  deeds  or  conveyances  fo  recorded  fhall  be 
held  good  and  valid  as  they  would  have  been  had 
aot  this  acl;  been  made. 

"  And  be  it  further  enafted  by  the  Authority 
aforefaid,  That  the  Juftices  of  the  Court  of  Gener 
al  Seflions  of  the  Peace,  at  their  firft  meeting  in 
the  faid  county  of  Worcefter,  fhall  have  full  pow 
er  and  authority  to  appoint  fome  meet  perfon, 
within  the  faid  county  of  Worcefter,  to  be  Regif- 
ter  of  deeds  and  conveyances  within  the  fame,  who 
fhall  be  fworn  to  the  faithful  difcharge  of  his  truft 
in  the  faid  office,  and  fhall  continue  to  hold  and 
exercif  e  the  fame  according  to  the  directions  of  the 
law,  until  fome  perfon  be  elc6led  by  the  freehold 
ers  of  the  faid  county  of  Worcefter,  who  are 
hereby  empowered  to  choofe  fuch  perfon,  on  the 
firft  Thurfday  of  September  next  enfuing,  by  the 
methods  in  the  law  already  prefcribed,  to  take  up 
on  him  that  truft.  And  until  fuch  Regifter  fhall 
we  fo  appointed,  by  the  faid  juftices.  and  fworn,, 

all 


THE      C  O  U  N  T  Y.  13 

•all  deeds  and  conveyances  of  lands  lying  within 
any  part  of  the  county  of  Worcefter,  which  fhall 
be  recorded  in  the  Regifter's  office  of  the  refpe&ive 
counties  where  fuch  lands  do  now*  lie,  lhall  be 
held  and  deemed  good  and  valid  to  all  intents  and 
purpofes  as  to  the  recording  thereof. 

"  And  be  it  further  enafted  by  the  Authority 
aforefaid,  That  the  methods,  directions  and  pro 
ceedings  by  law  provided,  as  well  for  the  electing 
and  choofing  a  Regifler  of  deeds  and  conveyances,, 
as  a  county  Treafurer,  which  officers  mall  be  ap 
pointed  in  the  fame  manner  as  is  by  law  already 
provided,  on  the  firft  Thurfday  of  September  next, 
and  alfo  for  the  bringing  forward  and  trying  any 
actions,  caufes,  pleas  or  fuits,  both  civil  and  crim 
inal  in  the  feveral  counties  of  this  province  and 
Coui"ts  of  Judicature  within  the  fame,  and  choofing 
of  Jurors  to  ferve  at  the  Courts  of  Juftice,  fhall  ex 
tend,  and  be  attended,  obferved  and  put  in  practice 
within  the  faid  county  of  Worcefter,  and  by  the 
Courts  of  Juftice  within  the  fame  :  Any  law,  ufage 
or  cuftom  to  the  contrary  notwithftanding. 

"  Provided  always,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the 
feveral  towns  and  places  herein  before  enumerated 
and  fet  off  a  diftin£l  county,  (hall  pay  their  pro 
portion  to  any  county  rates  or  taxes  already  made 
and  granted,  in  the  fame  manner  as  they  would 
have  done,  had  not  this  a6l  been  made." 

This  aft  paired  April  2,  1731. 

When  the  county  was  thus  creeled,  the  follow 
ing  perfons  were  commiflioned  officers  of  the  Court 
af  Common  Pleas,  and  for  the  county,  viz. 

B  3  Hon. 


J4  THE      COUNTY. 

COURTS  of  COMMON  PLEAS. 

JUSTICES. 

Hon.  John  Chandler,  of  Woodftock, 
Jofeph  Wilder,  of  Lancafter, 
William  Ward,  of  Southborough, 
William   Jennifon,  of  Worcefter,  Efquires, 

Judges. 

John  Chandler,  jun.  of  Worcefter,  Clerk, 
Daniel  Gookin.  of  Worcefter,  Sheriff. 
And  the  firft  Court  of  General  Se.flions  of  the 
Peace,  and  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  for 
the  county,  was  held  at  Worcefter,  Auguft  loth, 
1731,  when  the  Rev.  John  Prentice,  of  Lancafter, 
preached  a  fermon  before  them,  which  was  printed, 
from  2  Chronicles,  Chap.  xix.  6th,  and  7th  verfes; 
'•  And  faid  to  the  Judges,  Take  heed  what  yc  do  : 
For  ye  judge  not  for  man,  but  for  the  Lord,  who 
is  with  you  in  the  judgment.  Wherefore  now,  let 
the  fear  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you,  take  heed  and 
do  it  :  For  there  is  no  iniquity  with  the  Lord  our 
God,  nor  refpect  of  pcrfons,  nor  taking  of  gifts." 
This  was  king  Jehoftiaphat's  charge  to  the  judges  of 
Judah, 

The  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  af 
ter  the  firft  appointment,  as  there  have  been  vacan 
cies  by  death,  refignation,  &c.  have  been  as  follow. 
When  the  Hon.  John  Chandler,  of  Woodftock, 
died,  Jofeph  Dwight,  Efq;  was  appointed,  and  the 
Hon.  Jofeph  Wilder,  of  Lancafter,  was  firft. 

Upon  the  death  of  Judge  Jennifon,  Samuei 
Willard,  Efq;  of  Lancafter,  was  appointed  a  Judge 
in  1743. 

In 


*HE       COUNTY.  15 

In  1745,  Nahum  Ward,  Efq;  of  Shrewfbuiy,  was 
commiffioned  Judge,  vice  William  Ward,  Efq. 

In  1750,  Edward  Hartwell,  Efq;  of  Lunenburg, 
was  appointed  Judge,  in  the  room  of  Jofeph 
Dwight,  Efq. 

In  1753,  Jonas  Rice,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  was 
conflituted  Judge,  vice  Samuel  Willard,  Efq. 

In  May,  1754,  John  Chandler,  Efq;  of  Worcef- 
ter,  who  had,  from  the  beginning,  been  Clerk  of 
the  Court,  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  faid  Court. 

In  the  year  1756,  Thomas  Steel,  Efq;  of  Liecef- 
ter,  was  commiffioned  Judge  of  the  Court,  vice  Jo 
nas  Rice,  Efq;  deceafed. 

In  May,  1757,  upon  the  death  of  Judge  Wilder, 
a  new  arrangement  tookplace,  in  the  following  order: 
Hon.  John  Chandler, 

Edward  Hartwell, 

Thomas  Steel, 

Timothy  Ruggles,  Efquires,   were  commif- 

fioned  Judges. 

Upon  the  refignation  of  Judge  Chandler,  in  Feb 
ruary,  1762,  a  commiffion  iifued  from  the  Governor 
and  Council,  appointing 

Hon.  Timothy  Ruggles,  of  Hardwick,  firft  Judge, 
Thomas  Steel,  of  Liecefter, 
Jofeph  Wilder,  of  Lancafter,  and 
Artemas  Ward,  of  Shrewfbuiy,  Efquires, 

Judges. 

Thefe  gentlemen    all   continued  in   that  office, 

until  the  year   1774,  when   the  people,  in  confe- 

quence  of  the  controverfy  with  Greatbritain,    put 

a    flop   to   the   exercife   of  all   judicial    powers, 

B  4  .held 


16  THE      COUNTY. 

held  under  the  King  of  England,  or  the  Governor 
of  the  province,  his  reprefentative.  In  this  fitua- 
tion  the  whole  then  province  remained,  until  Oc 
tober  17th,  1775,  when  a  commiflion  ifTued,  from 
the  powers  which  then  were,  conflituting  and 
appointing  the 

Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  of  Shrewsbury  ; 
Jedidiah  Fofter,  of  Brookfield  ; 
Mofes  Gill,  of  Princetown  ;  rmd 
Samuel  Baker,  of  Berlin,   Efquires,   Jufti- 
ces  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

In  purfuance  of  which  a  Court  was  holden  De 
cember  5,  1775. 

On  September  ipth,  1776,  the  Hon.  Jofeph 
Dorr,  Efq;  of  Ward,  was  appointed  a  Juftice  of 
this  Court,  vice  the  Hon.  Jedidiah  Fofter,  Efq; 
who  was  advanced  to  be  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Since  the  appointment  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Dorr, 
there  has  been  no  change  or  alteration  in  the  Judicia 
ry  department ;  that  is,  for  more  than  lixteen  years. 

CLERKS. 

The  Clerks  of  the  Court  of  General  Seflions  of 
the  Peace,  and  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  from 
the  beginning,  have  been  as  follow  : 

Hon.  John  Chandler,  jun.  of  Worcefter,  Jirjl 
Clerk.  In  November,  1751,  the  Hon.  Timothy 
Paine,  Efq;  was  appointed  joint  Clerk  with  Mr. 
Chandler  ;  and  after  Mr.  Chandler's  advance 
ment  to  the  bench,  in  1754,  Mr.  Paine  continued 
fole  Clerk  of  faid  Courts,  to  the  year  1774.  In 
December,  1775,  the  Hon,  JLevi  Lincoln,  Efq;  was 

appointed 


THE      COUNTY.  17 

appointed  Clerk,  who  continued  in  the  office  but 
a  year,  and  refigned,  when  Jofeph  Allen,  Efq;  of 
Worcefler,  was  appointed,  and  ftill  continues  Clerk. 

SHERIFFS  of  the  COUNTY  to  this  time. 

In  1743,  Benjamin  Flagg,  Efq;  of  Worcefler,  was 
appointed  Sheriff,  vice  Daniel  Gookin,  Efq;  de~ 
ceafed.  Auguft,  1751,  John  Chandler,  jun.  Efq; 
of  Worcefler,  fucceeded  Benjamin  Flagg,  deceafed. 
In  1762,  Gardner  Chandler,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  was 
conftituted  Sheriff,  vice,  Hon.  John  Chandler, 
promoted.  Mr.  Gardner  Chandler  continued  in 
the  office  until  the  year  1775,  when  Simeon  O wight, 
Efq;  of  Weflern,  was  commiffioned  Sheriff,  and 
continued  until  his  death  in  1778,  when  William 
Greenleaf,  of  Lancafter,  was  appointed,  who  con 
tinued  ten  years,  and  was  fucceeded  by  the  Hon. 
John  Sprague,  Efq;  of  Lancailer,  who  refigned 
the  office  in  1792,  when  D wight  Fofler,  Efq;  of 
Brookfield,  was  appointed.  Mr.  Fofter  being  chof- 
en  a  Reprefentative  for  this  diftri£l,  refigned  the 
office  of  Sheriff ;  whereupon  William  Caldwell, 
Efq;  of  Rutland,  was  appointed  in  his  place,  July 

9'  1793- 

JUDGES  of  PROBATE  from  the  beginning. 

Hon.   John  Chandler,  of  Woodftock  ;    who  was 

fucceeded  by 

Jofeph  Wilder,  Efq;  of  Lancafler  ;  fucceed 
ed  by 
John  Chandler,  Efq;  of  Worcefler;  fucceeded 

by  his  fon, 

Hon. 


if  THE     COUNTY- 

Hon.  John  Chandler,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  in  1762, 
who  continued  in  office  until  the  Revolu 
tion.  After  that  period, 

Jedidiah  Fofter,  Efq;  of  Brookfield,  was  ap 
pointed  and  continued  until  his  advance 
ment.  He  was  fucceedcd  by 

Artemas  Ward,  Efq;  of  Shrewlbury  ;  fuc- 
ceeded  by 

Levi  Lincoln,  Efq;ofWorcefler;  fucceededby 

Jofeph  Dorr,  Efq;  of  Ward,  the  prefent  Judge. 

REGISTERS  of  PROBATE. 

Hon.  John  Chandler,  jun.  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  firft 

Regifter  ;  he  was  fucceededin  the  office  by 

Timothy  Paine,  Efq;  of  Worcefler.     A  few 

years  before  the  Revolution, 

Mr.  Clarke  Chandler,  of  Worcefler,  was  appointed 
joint  Regifter  with  the  Hon.  Mr.  Paine.  In  1 776, 
Jofeph  Wheeler,  Efq;  of  Worcefler,  was  appointed 
Regifter,  and  continued  to  his  death,   Feb.  10, 
1793.     Upon  his  deceafe, 
Mr.  Theophilus  Wheeler  was  appointed  Regifter, 

Probate  Courts  are  held  at  the  Probate  Office  in 
Worcefter,  on  the  firft  Tuefday  of  every  month  ; 
and,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inhabitants,  on 
certain  other  days,  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 

REGISTERS  of  DEEDS. 

Hon.  John  Chandler,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  the  firft, 

and  fucceedcd  by 

Timothy  Paine,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  who  con 
tinued  in  the  office  until  the  Revolution— 
when 

Mr. 


THE     COUNTY.  19 

Mr.  Nathan  Baldwin,  of  Worcefter,  was  chofen  ; — > 

after  his  death, 
Daniel  Clap,  Efq;  of  Worcefter,  was  elefted,  who 

now  fills  that  ftation.     The  office  for  the  regiftry 

is  kept  at  Worcefter. 

The  public  buildings  of  the  county  are  good 
and  convenient.  The  Court  Houfe  is  well  fituat- 
ed  ;  is  a  handfome  building,  but  wants  to  be  enlarg 
ed,  and  in  all  probability  fpeedily  will  be. 

The  Jail  is  a  large,  commodious  houfe,  lately 
ere&ed  at  the  expenfe  of  the '  county  :  it  is  built 
with  good  ftones,  of  a  greyifh  colour,  from  Mill- 
Hone  Hill,  fo  called,  in  Worcefter,  the  inhabitants 
whereof,  freely  gave  the  ftone  for  this  purpofe.  It 
is  64  feet  in  length,  and  32  in  breadth,  and  three 
ftories  high.  The  lower  ftory  is  divided  into  four 
arches  croffwife,  forming  four  rooms  for  the  fafe  cuf- 
tody  of  perfons  convicled  of,  or  committed  for  grofs 
crimes.  The  feoond  is  divided,  in  the  fame  man 
ner,  into  four  rooms,  but  pot  arched  with  ftone. 
Thefe  are  for  the  keeping  of  debtors,  who  have 
not  the  liberty  of  the  yard  ;  and  for  perfons  com 
mitted  for  fmall  offences.  The  upper  ftory  has 
an  entry  or  walk  from  end  to  end,  and  is  divided 
into  eight  convenient  rooms  for  the  ufe  of  prifon- 
ers  for  debt  who  have  the  liberty  of  the  jail  yard. 
This  yard  extends  fo  as  to  include  the  jailor's  houfe, 
and  the  meetinghoufe  of  the  fecond  parifh.  The 
houfe  built  for  the  keeper  of  the  jail  is  the  proper 
ty  of  the  county  ;  It  is  a  handfome,  well  finifhed 
Building. 

The 


to  THE      C  O  U  N  T  Y. 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  of  the  Gene 
ral  Seflions  of  the  Peace,  have  four  terms  in  a 
year,  appointed  by  Aft  of  the  Legiflature,  for  fit 
ting  and  tranfafting  bufmcfs — viz.  on  the  fourth 
Tuefday  in  March,  the  fecond  Tuefday  in  June, 
the  laft  Tuefday  in  Auguft,  and  the  fiift  Tuef 
day  in  December. 

The  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  this  Common 
wealth  holds  two  feffions  in  this  county  annually : 
The  times  herefor,  by  law,  at  prefcnt  eflablifhcd, 
are  the  Tuefday  preceding  the  lafl  Tuefday  of  A- 
pril,  and  the  third  Tuefday  of  September. 

Since  the  eftablifhment  of  this  county,  fixty  two 
years  ago,  twelve  perfons  have  been  tried  and  exe 
cuted  for  the  following  crimes  : 

For  Murders,  5 
For  Burglaries,  5 
For  Rapes,  2 

A   GENERAL 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

THE  County  of  Worccftcr,  however  fmall 
in  its  beginning,*  confiding  of  but  fifteen  or 
fixteen  towns,  the  greater  part  of  which  were  in 
fant  plantations,  with  but  few  inhabitants,  has 

flourifhcd 

*  The  late  Governor  Hutchinfcm,  who  was  then  *  member  of  the  Gener,- 
•1  Court,  flrrnuoufty  oppofed,  as  it  is  faid,  its  being  creftcd  into  a  county  ; 
urging  the  utter  improbability  of  its  ever  making  any  figure.  He  lived  to  fee 
that  he  was  greatly  miftaken  in  his  conje&ures.  This  is  an  inftance  which 
may  fhow  us  we  have  no  certain  rules  to  proceed  upon  in  calculating  the 
growth  and  population  of  new  fettlements  ;  they,  generally,  exceed  the  rnoft 
railed  expectations  of  people,  and,  often,  all  rational  probability. 


THE     C  O  U  N  T  Y.  st 

fiourifhed  and  increafed  in  the  moft  rapid  and  fur- 
prifing  manner.  It  has  rifen  to  eminence  and  dif- 
tin&ion  among  the  counties  of  the  Common 
wealth  ;  for  while  it  is  but  the  tenth  in  age,  it  is  the 
third  in  wealth,  paying  a  larger  proportion  of  a 
ftate  tax,  than  any  of  the  other  counties,  except 
Suffolk  and  Effex,  and  falling  but  a  little  fhort  of 
thefe  two. 

It  is  large  in  extent  ;  being  bounded  on  the 
fouth,  almoft  equally,  by  the  States  of  Connecti 
cut  and  Rhodeifland  ;  and  on  the  north  by  the 
ftate  of  Newhampfhire.  On  the  eaft  it  is  bounded, 
'mainly,  by  the  county  of  Middlefex,  juft  touch 
ing  at  its  fouth  eaft  angle  upon  the  county  of 
Suffolk ;  and  on  the  weft  by  the  county  of  Hamp- 
fhire.  It  is  about  48  miles  in  length  from  north  to 
fouth,  and  about  35  miles  in  width  from  eaft  to  weft. 
It  contains  forty  nine  towns,  the  moft  of  which  are 
large  in  extent  of  lands,  and  number  of  inhabitants. 

According  to  a  late  cenfus,  taken  by  an  a&  of 
Congrefs,  in  order  to  a  juft  apportionment  of  the 
number  of  Reprefentatives  among  the  feveral  States, 
it  contains  56807  fouls. 

REPRESENTATIVES  to  CONGRESS. 

IN  the  firft  and  fecond  Congrefs,  under  the 
prefent  Conftitution,  this  county  was  entitled  to 
an  eighth  part  in  the  reprefentation  of  this  Com 
monwealth.  The  Hon.  Jonathan  Grout,  Efq;  of 
Peterfham,  was  ele&ed  Reprefentative  for  this  coun 
ty  in  the  firft  Congrefs.  The  Hon,  Artemas  Ward, 


fcJsr  THE     COUNTY. 

Efq;  of  Shrcwfbury,  was  chofen  to  reprefent  this 
county  in  the  fecond  Congrefs,   whofe   term   ex 
pired  o,n  the  fourth  of  March,  1793.     And  where 
as  by  an  enumeration  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
United  States  lately  made,   the  number  of  Repre- 
fcntatives  for  this   Commonwealth,    according  to 
Conflitution,  is  increafed  to  fourteen  ;  fo  the  Le- 
giflature  by  a  late   Aft,    joined    the    counties    of 
\Vorcefter,  Hampfhire  and  Berkfhire,   in  one  dif- 
trift,  for  the  choice  of  four  Reprefentatives  for  the 
third  Congrefs  ;  one  of  whom  was  to  be  chofen  in 
each  county,  and  the  fourth  in  either  of  the  three. 
At  the  late  election,  in  this  diftrift,  the  Hon.  Ar- 
temas  Ward,   Efq;  was  chofen  Reprefcntative  for 
this  county,  by   a  large  majority  of  the  votes  of 
the  three  counties.       The  Reprefentative  chofen 
for  the   diftricT:,     in  whofe   eleftion    this   county 
gives  its  voice,  is  the  Hon.  Dwight  Fofter,  Efq;  of 
Brookfield,  the  late  Sheriff  of  the  county  of  Wor- 
cefler. 

Befides  that  this  county  may  have  its  full  mare 
of  representation  in  Congrefs,  it  gives  in  its  fuf- 
frages,  with  a  number  of  other  counties,  for  one 
Reprefentative  for  the  State  at  large,  who  is  chofen, 
viz.  the  Hon.  David  Cobb,  Efq;  of  Taunton,  in 
the  county  of  Briftol. 

The  county  of  Worcefler,  alfo,  choofes  annu 
ally,  an  eighth  part,  five,  jof  the  Senators  in  the 
Legiflature  of  the  Commonwealth. 

SENATORS. 

THE  following  is  a  lift  of  the  gentlemen  who 
have  been  chofen  Senators  for  this  county,  from 

the 


THE     COUNTY.  a$ 

the  commencement  of  our  new  conftitution,  on  the 
25th  of  October,  1780,  to  theprefent  time. 

1780,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  of  Princeton;  Samuel 
Baker,  of  Berlin ;  Jofeph  Dorr,  of  Ward,  Ifrael 
Nichols,  of  Leominfter ;  and  Seth  Wafhburn,  of 
Leicefler,  Efqrs. 

1781,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,   Samuel  Baker,  Jofeph 
Dorr,  Ifrael  Nichols,   Jonathan  Warner,  of  Hard- 
wick,  Efqrs. 

1782,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Jofeph 
Dorr,  Ifrael  Nichols,  Jonathan  Warner,  Efqrs. 

1783,  Hon.   Mofes  Gill,   Samuel  Baker,  Ifrael 
Nichols,  Seth  Wafhbarn,  Jonathan  Warner,  Efqrs. 

1784,  Hon.   Mofes   Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Ifrael 
Nichols,  Seth  Waftiburn,  Jonathan  Warner,  Efqrs. 

1785,  Hon.   Mofes   Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Ifrael 
Nichols,  Seth  Wafhburn,  John  Sprague,  Efqrs. 

1786,  Hon.    Mofes    Gill,    Samuel  Baker,  Seth 
Waftiburn,  Abel  Wilder,  of  Winchendon  ;  Ifrael 
Nichols,  Efqrs. 

1787,  Hon.  Seth  Wafhburn,  Abel  Wilder,  Amos 
Singletary,  of  Sutton ;  John  Feffenden,  of  Rutland  ; 
Jofeph  Stone,  of  Harvard* Efqrs. 

This  year,  1787,  Hon.  Peter  Penniman,  Efq;  of 
Mendon,  was  chofen  Counsellor. 

1788,  Hon.  Samuel  Baker,  Abel  Wilder,  Amos 
Singletary,   John   Feffenden,  Jonathan  Grout,  of 
Peterfham,  Efqrs. 

This  year  the  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  Efq;  was 
chofen  Counfellor. 

1789, 


34  THE     C  O  U  N  T  Y. 

1789,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Abel  Wilder,  Amos 
Singletary,  John  Feflenden,  and  Peter  Penniman, 
of  Mendon,  Efqrs. 

1790,  Hon.  Mofes   Gill,   Samuel  Baker,    Abel 
Wilder,,  Amos  Singletary,  John  Fefleriden,  Efqrs. 

1791,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Jonathan 
Warner,  Abel  Wilder,  Timothy  Newell,  Efqrs. 

1792,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,    Samuel   Baker,    Abel 
Wilder,  Jonathan  Warner,  Timothy  Newell,  Efqrs. 

In  the  fall  of  1792,  the  Legiflature,  according  to 
Conftitution,  chofe  the  Hon.  Jofiah  Stearns,  Efq; 
of  Lunenburg,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occafioned  by  the 
death  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Wilder. 

1793,  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Samuel  Baker,  Jonathan 
Warner,  Timothy  Newell,  Jofiah  Stearns,  Efqrs. 

The  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Efq;  has  uniformly  been 
ele&ed  a  Counfellor  for  this  county,  from  the 
commencement  of  the  Conftitution,  in  1780,  to  this 
time,  1793,  except  only  in  the  years  1787  and  1788. 

As  by  the  Conftitution  of  the  Commonwealth,  eve 
ry  town  in  the  ftate,  having  150  rateable  polls,  may 
fend  one  Reprefentative  to  the  State  Legiflature  : 
And  every  town,  having  375,  may  fend  two,  and  fo 
on  in  the  fame  ratio ;  fo  every  town  in  the  county 
can  fend  one,  except  Gardner  :  Divers  of  them 
are  entitled  to  two,  and  fome  of  them  to  three. 


WORCESTER. 


this  is  the  ftiire  town  of  the  county  of 
Worcefter,  we.will  firft  give  an  account  and  defcrip- 
tion  of  this  place,  and  then  proceed  to  the  other 
towns  in  the  county  according  to  their  refpeftive 
ages,  reckoning  from  the  dates  of  the  ads  of  incor 
poration. 

Worcefter  is  part  of  a  feracl;  of  land  called  by  the 
aboriginals,  Quinfigamond  ;  which  territory  was 
by  them  efteemed  to  bound  eafterly,  partly  on 
Quinfigamond  pond,  and  partly  on  Haffanamifco, 
now  Grafton  ;  Southerly,  on  the  Nipnet,  or  Nip- 
mug  country,  where  Oxford  and  fome  adjacent 
towns  now  are;  wefterly,  on  Quaboag,  now  Brook- 
field,  and  lands  in  that  vicinity  ;  and  northerly, 
on  Nafhawogg,  now  Lancafter,  Sterling,  &c..  &c» 
On  October  24th,  1668,  a  townfhip  of  land  of 
rather  more  than  eight  mjles  fquare,  to  be  bound 
ed,  eafterly  on  Quinfigamond  pond,  was  granted 
by  the  General  Court,  to  Daniel  Gookin,  Dajiiel 
Henchman,  Thomas  Prentice,  and  their  aflbciates. 
But  war,  at  that  time,  and  for  feveral  fucceeding 
years,  prevailing  with  the  Indians^  the  fettlement 
of  the  place  was  prevented  until  *the  year  1685: 
At  which  time,  the  natives  appearing  peaceably 
difpofed,  and  behaving  in  a  friendly  manner  to 
the  Engliffi,  the  above  named  perfons,  together 
with  John  Wing,  George  Danfon,  Peter  Goulding-, 
Dickery  Sargeant,  Ifaac  Bull  and  Jacob  Leonard, 
ventured  to  begin  the  plantation, 

C  The 


&6  WORCESTER. 

The  town  was  incorporated  the  preceding  year 
O&ober  15,  1684,  and  the  name  of  Worcefter 
given  to  it.  But  the  firft  town  meeting  ever  held  in 
the  place,  was  on  the  laft  Wednefday  of  September, 
1722.  A  fpecial  order  of  the  General  Court  paffed 
directing  Judge  Fulham  of  Wefton,  to  call  faid 
meeting.  * 

In  the  year  following  feveral  other  men,  with  their 
families,  moved  into  the  place.  And  the  fettlement 
thereof  went  on  profperoufly  until  the  year  1701, 
when  the  Indians  began  again  to  attack  the  frontier 
towns  in  Maffachufetts.  In  the  year  1702,  the  In 
dians  killed  the  wife  of  Dickery  Sargeant,  and  two 
of  his  children,  and  carried  three  of  his  children 
into  captivity.t  In  this  town  alfo,  Mr.  Elima  Ward 
was  fuppofed  to  be  killed,  for  he  was  known  to  be 
mot  at,  and. never  after  feen,  or  heard  of.  The 
war  raged  with  fucbi  fury  at  this  time,  that  Worcef 
ter  was  entirely  depopulated.  But  peace  being 
concluded  with  the  Indians,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1713.  Some  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
townfhip  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  encour 
agement  and  direction  towards  its  refettlement. 

In 

*  Here  we  muft  obfcrve,  by  the  way, .that  the  method  of  the  Government 
was  very  different  in  former  times,  from  what  it  has  been  fince. — In  thofc 
earlier  days-,  plantations  were  named,  and  faid  to  be  incorporated,  when 
there  were  few,  or  no  inhabitants  in  them  ;  and  when  a  fuffkicnt  number  of 
people  had  killed  in  them,  a  fpecial  refolve  of  Court  paflcd  to  empower 
them  too  meet,  and  choofe  their  town  Officers  :  But  for  60  years  paft.they 
Jiave  been  incorporated)  named,  and  empowered  to  hold  town  meetings^ 
by  the  fame  aft. 

f  Thefe  children,  two  fons  and  a  daughter,  chofc  to  dwell  among  the  In- 
clians.     However,  in  1726,  they  accompanied  Mifs  Williams,  taken  from 
on  a  vifit  to  they-  friends  in  Ncwengland, 


WORCESTER,  27 

In  confequence  of  this  application  the  Court  ap 
pointed  a  committee  to  afcertain  the  claims  of  the 
grantees  ;    and  conduct  the  resettlement  of    the 
place.     On  the  21  ft  of  October,  1713,  Jonas  Rice, 
with  his  family,  moved  into  the  place  and  remain 
ed  there,  without  any  other  inhabitants,  until  the 
fpring  of  the  Year  1715,  when  a  confiderable  num 
ber  of  perfons  joined  him.     The  number  of  fet- 
tlers  was  augmented  by  Emigrants  from  Ireland  in 
1718:  Since  which   time  it  has  flourilhed  and  in- 
creafed  exceedingly,  and  become  large,  populous 
and  wealthy.    In  the  year  1740,  Holden  was  fetoff 
from  Worcefler,  and  became  a  diftincl  town  ;    and 
in  1778,  2 200  acres,  with  the  inhabitants  thereon, 
were  taken  from  this  town  to  aid  in  forming  the 
town  of  Ward ; — Yet  ftill  Worcefter  is  large  in  its 
dimenfions,   being  about  fix  miles   fquare  :  And 
bounded,    northerly,    on    Holden   ;    eafterly   on 
Shrewsbury,  Boylfton  and  Long  Pond  ;  foutherly, 
on  Ward  and  Sutton,  and  wefterly,  on   Leicefter, 
and  Holden.     It  is  become  very  populous,  con 
taining    two  thoufand    one  hundred   inhabitants, 
according  to   the  cenfus  taken  in  the  year  1791  : 
And  it  will  no  doubt,  ftill  greatly  increafe  for  many 
years.     It  is  alfo  wealthy  and  opulent,    being  the 
third  town  in  the  county,  in  the  proportion  which 
it  pays  in  a  ftate  tax ;  and  would  be  the  firft,  mod 
certainly,  in  the  lift,  did  not  the  other  two,  Brook- 
field,  and  Sutton,  greatly  exceed   it  in  extent  and 
dimenfions;  and  alfo  in  the  number  of  fouls. 

The  inhabitants,  in  the  outer  parts  of  this  town, 
fubfift  by  husbandry.     But   in  the  centre,  in  the 
C  »  compafs 


a&  WORCESTER. 

compafs  of  one  mile,  and  moftly  on  one  flreet,  are 
collected  the  county  officers,  a  number  of  merch 
ants  and  mop  keepers,  profeflional  men,  and  me- 
chanicks  of  various  forts.  A  very  great  trade  is 
here  carried  on,  in  European  and  Wellindia  goods; 
and  the  adjacent  country  is  fupplied  from  this 
town :  Here  are  large  apothecary  ftores,  and  (lores 
of  all  kinds  of  hardware. 

A  printing  prefs  was  here  fet  up  in  1775,  by 
Mr.  Ifaiah  Thomas,  who  is  thought  to  do  far  more 
bufmefs  than  any  other  in  the  ftate,  or  in  the  Unit 
ed  States  of  America.*  The  houfes  in  the  ftreet, 
are  very  compact,  many  of  them  large  and  elegant, 
as  alfo  the  ftores  and  mops.  And  here  they  have 
a  number  of  large  inns,  not  only  for  the  accommo 
dation  of  the  people  of  the  county,  at  the  times 

for 

*  In  the  time  of  the  political  controverfy  between  Great  Britain,  and 
lliefc  States,  previous  to  the  war,  near  the  clofe  of  the  year  1774,  feveral 
gentlemen  applied  in  Eoiton,  to  Ifaiah  Thomas,  printer  of  the  Maffachu- 
fetts  Spy,  («i  Newfpaper  tamed  for  its  oppofijion  to  the  Britifh  govern- 
jnent,  and  which  was  no  frriall  (poke  in  the  wheel  ot"  the  American  Revo 
lution)  to  fet  up  a  printing  prefs  in.  Worccfter  :  He  confented,  aad  iffued 
propofals  for  that  purpofe  and  for  printing  a  ncwfpaper  weekly,  in  the 
town  of  Worcefter  :  But,  foon  after,  the  politicks  of  that  time  wearing  a 
Wore  ferious  afpet>,  and  Mr.  Thomas  being  one  of  a  lift  of  perfons,  who, 
it  \yai  thought,  would  firft  feel  the  weight  of  Bruifh  vengence,  fecretly  with- 
<licw  hi  mfelf,  and  his' printing  materials,  from  Bofton.  His  printing  Ap 
paratus  he  fcnt  off  for  Worcefter,  about  three  days  before  the  battle  of  Lex 
ington,  and  he  himfelf  followed  the  day  after  that  battle.  On  the  3d  oi 
M*}'*  >  775,  he,  at  Worcefter,  recommenced  thepublication  of  the  Maflachufetts 
Spy,  which  was  the  firft  printing  performed  in  the  county.  Thii  ncwfpaper 
is  fljll  printed  at  Worcefter,  aad  is  the  oldcft  in  the  State,  the  Bofton  Gazctt; 
exccpted. 

When  the  war  ccafed,  Mr.  Thomas  extended  his  bufmefs,  and  in  the 
year  1788,  reefbblifhcd  a  printing  omcc  in  Bofton,  he  himfelf  rcfiding  ia 
Worcefter,  where  he  ftiJl  carries  on  the  printing  bufmefs  on  a  very  larger 
fwlc7  a»  be  docs  >lfo  ia  Bofton,  Among  other  large  works  which 

have 


WORCESTER.  29 

for  holding  the  courts,  but  for  travellers,  and  it  is 

a  place  of  great  refort.     On  the   flreet  has    lately 

been  erected  a  large  and    handfome   fchoolhoufe, 

of  about  60,  by  30  feet,  and  two  flories  high.    On 

the  lower  floor  are  two   apartments,   one  deligned 

for  a  grammar  fchool,  and  the  other  for  a  writing 

fchool.     In  the  upper  ftory  there  is  one  large  a- 

partment,  with  a  fire  place  at   each  end  :     This  is 

ufed  by  the  fcholars  on  their  exhibition  days.  On 

the  top  there  is  a  cupola  with  a  bell.     The  flreet  is 

wide,  ftraight,  and  very  pleafant,  and  adorned  on 

either  fide  with  trees.     And  upon   the  whole,  this 

town  is'one  of  the  moft  populous,  lively,  flourim- 

Jng,  agreeable  inland  places    in  the   ftate.     There 

are  two  congregational   religious   focieties    in  this 

town,  called  the   firft  and  fecond  pariihes.     Thefe 

have  no   parochial  boundaries,  but  are  called  poll 

parifhes  ;  each  inhabitant  having  a  right  by  law,  to 

pay  and  to  conneft    himfelf  to    which  parifli    he 

pleafes,  only  fignifying  his  choice,  by  leaving  his 

name 

have   ifTued  from  his  preffes  in  Worcefter,   arc  three  editions  of  the  Bible, 
viz.  a  large  Folio,  with  50  copper  plates  ;  a  large  Royal  Quarto,  with  Con-, 
cordance,  &c.  and  one   in    Cftavo  4 — they  arc  all  the  firft  of  the  kind  ever 
printed  in  America  : — And,  upon  examination,    his  editions  are  found  the 
molt  corrcft  of  any  HOW   extant.     He  is  now  preparing  to  print  two  other 
editions  of  the  Bible  ;  vir..  a  fmall  Quarto  ;  and  one  in  Duodecimo,  or  the 
common  fchool  Bible  -  For  this  laft,  all  the  types  will  be  kept  {landing  fo- 
the  -whole  work,  as  is  the  method  in  the  King's  printing  houfes  in  England 
and  Scotland,     Mr/'ST^iomas  has  alfo    carried  on  the    Bookbinding  buiinels 
very  extenfivtly  ;   and  is  now  engaged  in  building,  in  Worceflcr,  as  large  a 
Paper  Mill  as  is  in  this  flW.    His  Bookftorein  \Vorcefter  is  keptv.-ell  filled 
with  a  large  affortmcnt  of  Books   in  all  branches  of  Literature,  which  is  a 
great  accommodation    to  p'irtAafers,  in  the  town  and  county.       His  manu 
factures    employ  and  fupport\<  large  number  of  people  ;  and  it  may  juftly 
-be  faid,  that  the  bufinefs  of  no  cne  perfon,  has   added  more  to  the  confe- 
auence  and  advantage  of  the  town  and  county  of  Worcpftor.  than  his» 

c  s 


30  WORCESTER. 

name  at  any  time  for  that  purpofe,  with  the  town, 
clerk.  They  have  accordingly  two  large  and  ele 
gant  meetinghoufes,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
apart  ;  one  ftanding  near  the  fouth  end.  and  the 
other  the  north  end  of  the  ftreet,  by  which  the  in 
habitants  are  happily  accommodated. 

In  the  year  1719,  the  firft  meetinghoufe  was  e- 
re&ed,  and  here  a  church  was  gathered,  and  the 
Rev.  Andrew  Gardner,  the  firft  minifter  was  or 
dained  in  the  autumn  of  that  fame  year  1719,  but 
the  month  and  day  cannot  be  afcertained.  He  was 
difmifled  from  Worcefter  on  the  laft  Wednefday 
of  October  1722,  and  was  afterwards  fettled  at 
Lunenburgh.  Mr.  Gardner  was  fucceeded  in  the 
facred  office  by  the  Rev.  Ifaac  Burr,  who  was  or 
dained  their  fecond  paftor,  on  the  25th  of  Octo 
ber  1725.  He,  likewife,  after  a  few  years,  was 
difmifled  from  his  work,  viz.  on  November,  1744. 

After  his  removal  the  Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty, 
for  a  fhort  fpace  Minifter  of  Kingfton,  in  the  coun 
ty  of  Plymouth,  where  he  was  ordained  November 
3d,  1742,  was  inftalled  paftor,  the  third  in  fuccef- 
fion,  of  the  church  and  people  of  Worcefter,  on 
the  loth  of  June  1747.  He  continued  in  office 
until  his  death,  which  was  on  July  20,  1784. 

After  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty 's  death,  a  fecond 
church  was  formed  here  on  December  ift,  1785, 
and  the  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft  was  ordained  to  the 
paftoral  care  thereof,  February  i,  1786.  This 
fecond  religious  fociety  was  incorporated,  as  a  dif* 

tinft  Parifti  November  13,  1787, 

To 


WORCESTER.  31 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty  fucceeded,  as  paftor 
of  the  firft  church  and  fociety  in  Worcefter,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Auftin,  who  was  inftalled  here  on  the 
agth  of  September,  1790.  This  gentleman  had 
been  for  a  fhort  fpace,  minifter  of  the  fourth  con 
gregational  fociety  in  Newhaven,  in  Connecticut. 

In  Worcefter,  a  Social  Library  company  has  late 
ly  been  eftablifhed  ;  their  flock  already  amounts  to 
<)ol.  and  as  theinftitution  is  founded  on  a  large  and 
liberal  plan,  it  will  doubtlefs  be  greatly  increafed. 

In  this  town,  a  number  of  gentlemen,  requefting 
the  fame,  received  a  charter  in  April,  1793,  from 
the  Maffachufetts  Grand  Lodge  for  holding  a 
LODGE  of  FREE  MASONS,  by  the  name  of  the 
MORNING  STAR  LODGE,  and  Ifaiah  Thomas,  was 
unanimoufly  elected  Mafter.  And  on  the  nth 
of  June,  the  Grand  Lodge,  of  Maffachufetts,  meet 
ing  at  Worcefter  for  the  purpofe,  he  was  inftalled 
by  the  moft  worfhipful  Grand  Mafter,  John  Cut 
ler,  and  the  Lodge  confecrated.  ^  The  Mated  meet 
ings  of  the  Morning  Star  Lodge  are  on  the  third 
Tuefday  of  every  month. 

We  (hall  now  prefent  our  readers  with  a  geo 
graphical  defcription  of  the  town  of  Worcefter. 

The  town  is  full  of  round  gradual  rifing  hills, 
and  of  dales  :  There  are  few  craggy  precipices,  and 
few  extenfive  plains.  The  middle,  or  moft  thick 
fettled  part,  is  in  a  valley,  furrounded  by  pleafant 
hills,  and  from  the  hill  as  we  enter  the  town  from 
the  eaft,  it  makes  an  agreeable  appearance.  Tat- 
nuck  and  Boggachoag  hills  are  remarkable  for  hav 
ing  formerly  had  Indian  towns  on  them.  They 
C  4  arc 


32  WORCESTER. 

are  neither  of  them  very  high.  Millftone  hill,  a- 
bout  a  mile  from  the  courthoufe,  to  the  eaft,  is  the 
common  property  of  the  inhabitants,  who  procure 
from  thence  flones,  Tome  of  which  they  fplit  out, 
and  hew  for  underpinning  to  their  houfes,  for  door 
flones  and  fteps.  The  flones  are  hard  grained,  and 
peculiarly  fit  for  Millftones.  It  mufl  be  a  fingu- 
lar  advantage  to  fuch  a  town  as  Worcefter,  to  have 
fuch  an  inexhauftible  quarry  of  building  flone, 
which  can  be  worked  into  any  fhape,  where  there 
are,  and  will  be  fo  many  gentlemen  who  wifh  to 
build  with  elegance,  as  well  as  for  convenience. 

The  natural  growth  of  wood  is  oak,  walnut  and 
chefnut,  on  the  higher  lands,  fome  pine  on  the 
fmall  plains  and  valleys,  and  in  the  fwamps  and 
low  lands,  am,  birch  and  maple.  The  town  is 
well  fupplied  with  wood.  And  as  every  farmer 
has  his  own  plat  of  woodland  upon  his  homeftead, 
fo  the  face  of  the  town  appears  more  woody  from 
the  hills,  than  it  is  in  faft.  The  intcrfpcrfion  of 
hills  and  dales,  fields  and  woods,  affords  an  agreea 
ble  and  variegated  profpeft,  extending  about  fix 
or  feven  miles  from  the  obferver's  eye.  And  a 
more  enlarged  view  is  not  to  be  had  from  the  great- 
«ft  eminence  in  the  -town. — The  foil  is  pretty  good, 
warm,  more  inclined  to  fand  than  clay,  however  it 
cannot  be  called  fa»dy  ;  is  is  friendly  to  the  growth 
of  Indian  corn.  Some  of  the  farmers  have  lately 
turned  their  attention  to  railing  wheat  and  flax,  and 
with  confiderable  fuccefs.  Rye  is  raifed  here  in 
great  quantities.  The  rifing  grounds  are  very  good 
for  paftures  an4  orchards  ;  and  the  lower  not  indif 
ferent 


WORCESTER.  33 

ferent  fpr  hay.  Indeed,  there  is  foil  of  almoft  eve 
ry  kind  in  ^  Worcefter,  and  almoft  on  every  farm. 
It  is  not  eafy  to  defcribe  its  general  properties;  for 
it  is  productive,  in  a  degree,  of  almoft  all  kinds  of 
country  produce,  and  not  noticeable  for  any  par 
ticular  one. 

How  far  this  town  affords  mines  and  minerals, 
has  never  yet  been  fully  afcertained.  About  the 
year  1754,  a  broad  flat  vein,  about  a  foot  thick,  of 
lead  and  filver  ore,  in  the  proportion  of  2^  penny 
weights  of  filver  to  one  pound  of  lead,  was  difcov- 
ered,  running  flauntwife  down  into  a  rock.  Some 
perfons  purchafed  it,  and  procured  a  miner,  who 
followed  it  a  little  way  into  a  rock,  on  a  hill  ;  and 
then  advifed  to  meet  it  by  digging  away  before  it. 
In  this  undertaking  confiderable  money  was  ex 
pended,  but  they  never  met  the  vein.  After  a  while, 
they  left  off  difcouraged.  However,  in  digging  to 
meet  this  vein,  they  found  feveral  pieces  of  ore,  a- 
bout  the  lize  of  a  peck,  or  half  bufhel. 

Worcefter  has  really  but  one  pond  within  its 
limits,  this  is  called  North  Pond,  and  is  of  an  oval 
form  ;  covering  about  30  acres  of  ground,  and  is 
furrounded  partly  by  woods  and  partly  by  a  fwamp 
and  meadow.  Though  not  an  agreeable  pond,  yet 
it  is  well  iupplied  with  the  ufual  forts  of  common 
pond  fifh,  as  pickerel,  perch,  miners,  breams,  eels, 
and  pouts.  Thefe  fifh,  however,  are  not  of  the  beft 
quality,  as  the  water  is  rather  ftagnant,  and  the 
bottom  muddy.  As  to  Quinfigamond,  or  Long 
Pond,  or  what  is  fometimes  called  Worcefter  Pond, 
the  fads  are  thefc,  that  all  the  water  of  that  pond 

which 


34  WORCESTER. 

which  lies  within  the  line  of  the  town  of  Worcefler, 
does  not  cover  more  than  one  acre  of  land,  being  two 
or  three  fmall  coves :  The  reft  of  the  pond  lies  within 
the  bounds  of  Skrewfbury,  and  will  be  particular 
ly  defcribed  when  we  come  to  fpeak  of  that  town. 

Worcefter  is  very  well  watered  by  rivers,  brooks 
and  rivulets.  Bimilick,  or  Mill  brook  has  its  fource 
in  North  Pond  ;  and  running  foutherly,  it  crofles 
the  great  road  a  little  north  of  the  Courthoufe,  and 
empties  into  Blackftone  river.  It  is  not  more  than 
ten  feet  wide  and  one  foot  deep  ;  but  a  fine  flream. 
Turkeybrook,  which  is  about  the  fame  fize,  origin 
ates  in  Holden.  Tatnuck,  or  Halfway  River,  in  the 
fouthwefterly  part  of  the  town,  runs  alfo  from 
Holden,  empties  perhaps  ten  times  as  much  wa 
ter,  and  is  about  two  rods  wide.  This  pafles  on 
through  Sutton,  to  the  fouthward.  Boggachoag 
river,  which  runs  northwardly,  through  a  corner  of 
Ward,  is  nearly  as  large  as  Halfway  River.  Thefe 
three  ftreams  unite  in  French  River,  fo  called. 

Upon  thefe  ftreams  there  are,  within  the  town 
of  Worcefter,  a  very  large  paper  mill,  four  grift 
mills,  four  faw  mills,  two  fulling  mills,  and  two 
trip  hammers.  The  fulling  mills  are  the  property 
of  Meffrs.  Stowell,  father  and  fons.  by  whom 
the  clothier's  bufmefs,  in  all  its  branches,  is  carried 
on  to  as  great  perfection  as  any  where  in  the  ftate. 
They  dye  fine  fcarlet,  and  deep  blue  colours,  in 
the  belt  manner. 

Befidcs  the  above  mentioned  there  are  two  or 
three  works  for  the  making  of  Potafh,  in  which 
Pearlafh  is  alfo  made:  Alfo  a  diftillery  for  gin. 

There 


WORCESTER.  3$ 

There  is  a  Poft  office  in  this  town  j  the  Poftmaf- 
ter  is  Ifaiah  Thomas. 

The  great  poft  road,  from  Bofton  to  Springfield 
is  very  good  in  that  part  of  it  which  goes  through 
Worcefter.  As  this  is  the  {hire  town,  roads  from 
all  parts  of  the  county,  and  in  every  direction,  cen 
tre  here.  There  is  now  a  Poft  road  eftablifhed, 
from  Worcefter  to  Providence,  which  paffes  through 
Mendon. 

Worcefter  is  fituated  47  miles  from  Bofton,  a 
little  to  the  fouth  of  weft. 

Having  faid  what  may  be  thought  fufficient,  in 
defcribing  the  town  of  Worcefter,  we  cannot  take 
our  leave  of  it,  without  mentioning  with  refpecl:, 
the  name  of  Chandler.  The  town  of  Worcefter, 
in  particular,  and  the  county  of  Worcefter  at  large, 
were  originally  greatly  indebted  to  the  Hon.  John 
Chandler,  Efq;  of  Woodftock,  the  firft  Judge  in 
the  county,  andhisfon,  the  firft  Col.  John  Chand 
ler  of  Worcefter,  who,  in  procefs  of  time  fucceed- 
ed  his  father  in  all  his  offices,  titles  and  honours, 
for  their  addrefs,  activity  and  enterprife.  And  their 
names  ought  to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 


LANCASTER, 


LANCASTER. 

1  HIS  is,  by  feveral  years,  the  eldeft 
town  in  the  county  of  Worcefler,  and,   originally, 
one  of  the  largeft,  as  will  appear  in   the  fequel  of 
this  hiftory,  when  we  come  to  mention  the  feveral 
large  towns  which  have   been  fet  off  from  it.     So 
early  as  in  the  year  1645,  Sholan.  alias  Shaumauw, 
proprietor  of  Najhawogg,  and  Sachem  of  the  Najha- 
*ways,  who  lived  at   Waufhacum,    (which  is  in  Ster 
ling)  informed  Mr.   Thomas  King  of  Watertown, 
with  whom  he  traded,  and  for  whom  he  had  a  re- 
fpeft,  of  this  tracl:  of  land  as  well   accommodated 
for  a  plantation,   defiring  the  Englifh  would  come 
and  fet  down  by  him.     Accordingly,   Mr.   King, 
Mr.  John  Prefcot,  Harmon  Garret,   Thomas  Skid- 
more,  Mr.  Day,   Mr.  Symonds,  with  others,  pro 
cured  of  faid  Sholan,  a  deed  of  Nafhawogg,   ten 
miles  in  lengh,  and  eight  in  breadth,  under  thefe 
reftriftions,  that  the  Englim  mould  not  mole  ft  the 
Indians  in  their  hunting,  fiming,  orufual  planting 
places. — And   the  General    Court   confirmed  the 
deed.     And  here  we  ought  to  obferve,  the  fidelity 
of  Slwlan  who  conveyed  this   tracl:  of  land  to  the 
Englim,   that  he  always  behaved  in   a  peaceable, 
friendly  manner  towards  them.      As  did  alfo  Mat 
thew,  his  nephew,  and  fucceffor  as  Sachem ;  but  Sag 
amore.  Sam,  nephew  to  Matthew,  and  fucceeded  him, 
was  of  a  different  temper  and  character;  and,  join 
ing  with  Philip  in  his  rebellion,  was  taken  by  the 
Englifti,  and  executed  as  a  rebel.     They  of  the 

tribe 


tribe  who  furvived  this  war  of  Philip's  divided  ; 
one  part  moving  to  Albany,  and  the  other  to  Pen- 
nicook,  with  which  tribe  they  incorporated. 

Let  us  return  from  this  digreflion.  Mr.  King 
fold  all  his  intereft  in  this  grant  to  his  affociates, 
who  having  given  lots  of  land  to  Richard  Linton, 
Lawrence  Waters,  and  John  Ball,  fent  them  up  to 
perform  divers  things  at  the  common  expenfe  of 
the  proprietors  :  And  thefe  were  the  firft  inhabi 
tants.  For  the  fpace  of  feven  years  little  was  done 
to  forward  the  fettlement  of  the  plantation  ;  nev- 
erthelefs,  there  being  nine  families  in  the  place, 
they  petitioned  the  General  Court  tp  be  incorpora 
ted  as  a  town,  which  was  granted  on  the  i8th  of  May, 
1653,  and  the  name  of  Lancafter  was  given  tp  it. 

The  town  was  in  peace  and  profperity  for  the 
fpace  of  twenty  two  years,  from  its  incorporation — 
and  the  Indians  were  very  ferviceable  to  the  inhab 
itants,  by  fupplying  them,  on  reafonable  terms, 
with  fuch  corn  and  wild  meat  as  they  needed. 

But  on  the  24th  of  June,  1675,  Philip,  Sackem 
of  Pbcanoket,  commonly  called  King  Philip,  re 
belled  againft  the  Englifh,  and  commenced  a  moft 
bloody  and  deftru&ive  war. — And  on  the  22d  of 
Auguft  following,  eight  perfons,  viz.  George  Ben- 
net,  William  Fagg,  Jacob  Farrar,  Jofeph  Wheeler, 
Mordecai  MacLoad,  with  his  wife  and  two  of  their 
children,  were  killed  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 
The  N-arraganfet  Indians,  joining  Philip  in  his 
rebellion,  marched  into  the  country,  and  perfuad- 
ed  the  Nipnets  and  Nafhaways  to  feake  up  arms  al 
to  againft  the  Englifh, 

Philip 


38  L£A  N  C  A  S  T  E  R. 

Philip  at  the  head  of  about  1500  Indians, 
marched  for  I.ancafter,  in  which  there  were  then 
above  fifty  families.  And  on  the  the  toth  of  Feb- 
%  ruary,  1676,  very  early  in  the  morning,  affaulted 
the  town  in  five  diftinft  bodies  and  places,  burn 
ing  moft  of  the  unfortified  houfes,  and  killing  fev- 
eral  perfons,  viz.  Jonas  Fairbank,  Jofhua  Fairbank, 
Richard  Wheeler,  Ephraim  Sawyer,  Henry  Farrar, 
and  Mr.  Ball  and  wife.  However,  they  deftroyed  no 
garrifon,  but  that  round  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland- 
Ton's  houfe  ;  in  which  there  were  foldiers  and  in 
habitants  to  the  amount  of  forty  two. 

The  enemy  foon  fet  fire  to  the  houfe,  which  re 
duced  the  Englifh  to  the  fad  neceffity  of  furrender- 
ing  to  the  Indians,  rather  than  to  perifh  by  the 
flames.  The  men,  except  Ephraim  Roper,  who 
made  his  efcape,  were  immediately  flain,  orreferv- 
ed  for  torture  :  Their  names  were,  Mr.  Divol,  A- 
braham  Joflin,  Daniel  Gains.  Thomas  Rowlandfon, 
William  and  Jofiah  Kerley.  John  MacLoad,  John 
Kettle  and  his  two  fons,  Jofiah  Divol,  &c.  &c. 

Two  of  the  women,  one  the  wife  of  Capt.  Ker 
ley,  the  other  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Roper,  were 
killed  in  attempting  to  efcape  ;  the  other  women, 
with  the  children,  about  twenty  in  number,  were- 
carried  into  captivity ;  among  whom  was  the  con- 
fort  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowlandfon.  with  three  chil 
dren,  the  youngeft  of  which  died  on  the  i8th  of 
the  fame  month  of  its  wounds  in  the  wildernefs, 
at  an  Indian  place  called  Wenimeflet,  or  Memi- 
nimeffet,  north  of  Quaboag,  aged  about  fix  years 
and  a  half.  This  place,  was  included  in  the  orig 
inal  grant  of  Lambftown,  or  Hardwick,  but  is  now 

within 


LANCASTER.  39 

within  the  limits  of  Newbraintree.  In  the  fame 
place  alfo,  the  wife  of  Abraham  Joflin,  being  una 
ble  to  travel  by  reafon  of  her  pregnancy,  the  In 
dians  firft  knocked  her  in  the  head,  with  her  child 
about  two  years  old,  made  a  large  fire,  ftripped 
them  naked,  and  then  threw  them  both  thereinto. 
The  other  women  and  children,  or  the  moft  of 
them,  foon  after  returned.  Mrs.  Rowlandfon,  with 
her  t\vo  furviving  children,  returned  in  about  three 
months.  We  muft  in  this  place,  obferve  the  rea 
fon  of  Mr.  Rowlandfon's  not  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy  with  the  garrifon,  was,  that  he  was 
then  at  Bofton,  foliciting  the  Governour  and 
Council  for  more  foldiers  for  the  protection  of  the 
town  ;  and  mef  the  heavy  tidings,  before  related,  on 
his  return.  Capt.  Wadfworth,  then  at  Marlbor- 
ough,  hearing  of  the  affault  of  Lancafter,  with  for 
ty  brave  men,  marched  immediately  for  its  relief, 
and,  entering  the  town  undifcovered,  forced  the 
enemy,  at  that  time,  to  quit  it.  He  quartered  his 
men  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and  tarried  fev- 
eral  days,  but  before  his  departure,  had  one  of  his 
men,  George  Harrington,  killed  by  the  Indians. 

This  is  that  famous  Capt.  Wadfworth,  who  af 
terwards  with  Capt.  Brocklebank,  and  the  much 
greater  part  of  their  men,  glorioufly  fell,  in  the 
caufe  of  their  country,  in  a  fight  with  the  enemy 
at  Sudbury. 

About  fix  weeks  after  the  above  affault  of  the 
town,  it  being  judged  untenable  under  the  then 
prefent  circumftances  both  of  that  and  the  coun 
try,  the  remainder  of  the  inhabitants,  except  John 
Roper,  who  was  killed  by  the  enemy  that  fame 

day 


40  LANCASTER. 

day,  drew  off  under  a  guard  of  horfe  and  foot. 
And  immediately  on  this  defertion  of  the  place, 
all  the  buildings,  fave  two,  were  reduced  to  aflies. 
In  this  Rate  of  defolation,  the  town  continued 
about  four  years  ;  during  which  time  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Rowlandfon  preached  at  Wethersficld  in  Connecti 
cut,  and  there  he  died,  before  the  refettlement  of 
the  town.  From  1680  to  the  year  1692,  they  were 
not  molefted  in  the  refettlement  of  the  town.  But 
the  French  king  efpoufing  tbe  caufe  of  James  the 
fecond  in  1688,  who  had  abdicated  the  Britifh 
throne,  involved  the  nation  in  a  war  with  France, 
and  Newengland  in  a  war  with  the  Canadians,  both 
French  and  Indians  :  In  the  calamities  of  which 
this  town  had  a  large  fhare.  For,  on  the  i8th  of 
July  1692,  the  Indiansaifaulted  the  houfeof  Peter 
Joflin,  who  was  at  his  labour  in  the  field  ;  and 
knew  nothing  thereof,  until,  entering  the  houfe,  he 
found  his  wife  and  three  children,  with  a  widow 
Whitcomb,  who  lived  in  his  family,  barbaroufly 
butchered  with  their  hatchets,  and  weltering  in 
their  blood.  His  wife's  filter,  with  another  of  his 
children,  were  carried  into  captivity — me  returned ; 
but  that  child  was  murdered  in  the  wildernefs. — 
In  1695,  on  a  Lord's  day  morning,  Mr.  Abraham 
Wheeler,  was  mortally  wounded. — On  the  nth  of 
September,  1697,  when  the  inhabitants,  not  fufpi- 
cious  of  any  enemy,  were  gone  out  to  their  labour, 
the  Indians  came,  in  feveral  companies,  into  the 
town,  and  were  near  furprifing  Thomas  Sawyer's 
garrifon,  both  the  gates  bei-ng  left  open  ;  but 
Jabez  Fairbank,  who  was  at  his  own  houfe  half  a 

mile's 


LANCASTER.  41 

mile's  diftance,  and,  defigning  to  bring  his  little  fon 
from  faid  garrifon,  mounted  his  horfe,  (which 
came  running  to  him  in  a  fright)  and  rode,  full 
fpeed,  into  the  gate,  but  yet  nothing  fufpicious  of 
an  enemy  :  However,  this  was  a  mean  of  favrhg 
the  garrifon  ;  for  the  enemy,  who  were  juft  ready 
to  rufh  into  it,  fuppofing  they  were  difcovered, 
gave  over  that  delign,  and  fired  at  fuch  as  were  iri 
the  fields. — At  this  t;me.  the  Rev.  John  Whiting 
being,  on  fome  occalion,  at  a  diftance  from  his 
garrifon,  they  furprifed  and  killed  him — they,  in 
deed,  offered  him  quarter  ;  but  he  chofe  rather  to 
fight  to  the  laft,  than  refign  himfelf  to  them  whofe 
tender  mercies  are  cruelty.  At  the  fame  time  they 
killed  twenty  others,  viz.  Daniel  Hudfon  and  his 
wife  and  two  of  their  daughters,  Ephraim  Ropert 
and  wife  and  daughter,  John  Skait  and  wife, 
Jofeph  Rugg  and  wife  and  three  children,  widow 
Ruggj  Jonathan  Fairbank,  and  two  of  bis  chil 
dren,  and  two  of  the  children  of  Nathaniel  Hud 
fon  :  They  wounded  two,  but  not  mortally  ;  and 
captivated  Jonathan  Fairbank's  wife,  widow- 
Wheeler,  Ephraim  Roper's  fon,  John  Skait's  fon, 
Jofeph  Rugg's  fon,  and  Mary  Glafier  :  Five  of  thefe 
returned. 

In  1704,  a  large  army  of  French  and  Indians 
came^from  Canada,  with  a  defign  to  deftroy  North 
ampton,  but,  finding  they  were  prepared  to  receiv^ 
them,  they  turned  their  courfe  towards  Lancafter ; 
and  on  the  3ift  of  July,  early  in  the  morning, 
they  fell  furioufly  upon  the  town  ;  and  in  their 
firfl  onfet  killed  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Wilder,  near  the 
D  gate 


42  LANCASTER, 

gate   of  his  own  garrifon  ;    and  on  the   Came  day 
three  others,  viz.  Abraham  How,  John  Spaulding, 
and  Benjamin  Hutchins,  near  the  lame  garrifon. 
The  enemy  were  uncommonly  brave,  and  there 
fore,    though   Capt.  Tyng,   who    commanded  the 
fpldiers.  of  the  garrifon,  and   Capt.    How,   with  a 
company  from  Marlborough,  who  marched  imme 
diately   to  their   afliftance,,  together  with  the  in 
habitants  of  the  town,  maintained  a  warm  conflict 
with  them,  for  fome  time,  yet  being  much  inferior 
in  number  were  obliged  to  retreat  into  the  garri 
fon.     Upon  this  the  enemy  burned  the   meeting- 
houfe,  and  fix  other  buildings,  and  deftroyed  much 
of  the  live  {lock  of  the  town.     Before  night  there 
came  fuch  numbers  to  the  relief  of   the  town,  that 
the  enemy  retreated  ;  and  though  purfued,  were 
not  overtaken. 

What  number  of  the  enemy  were  killed  at  the 
above  time  is  uncertain  ;  but  it  was  fuppofed  to-be 
confiderable  : — A  French  officer,  of  fome  diftinc- 
tion,  was  mortally  wounded,  which  greatly  exaf- 
perated  them. 

On  the  26th  of  Oftober,  the  fame  year,  1704,  a 

party  of  the  enemy  having  been  dif covered  at  Still 

River,   the  foldiers  and  inhabitants   belonging  to 

Mr.  Gardiner's  garrifon,  with   divers  others,  went 

in   queft  of  them,   and  returned   in   the  evening 

much  fatigued  with  the  fervice  of  the  day — Mr. 

Gardner,  (who  had  been  preaching  feveral  years 

with  the  people  of  Lancafter,  and  was   now  their 

Paftor  ele6l)  in   compaflion   to  the  foldiery,  took 

the  watch  that  night  upon  himfclf ;  and  coming 

out 


LANCASTER.  43 

out  of  the  box,  late  in  the  night  upon  fome  occa- 
lion,  was  heard  by  one  Samuel  Prefcott  in  the 
houfe,  between  fleeping  and  waking,  wfco,  fuppof- 
ing  him  an  enemy,  feized  the  firft  gun  which  came  ; 
to  hand,  and  mot  him  through  the  body  in  the 
parade.  But  the  fatal  miftake  immediately  ap 
peared  ;  and  he,  being  carried  into  the  houfe,  for 
gave  the  perfon  who  mot  him,  and  in  an  hour  or 
two  expired,  to  the  great  grief,  not  only  of  his 
confort,  but  of  his  people,  who  had  afi  high  efteem 
of  him. 

On  the  i5th  of  October,  1705,  Mr.  Thomas 
Sawyer,  with  his  fon,  Elias  Sawyer,  and  John  Big- 
low,  were  captivated  at  his  garrifoned  houle, 
about  the  dawn  of  day.  Mr.  Sawyer's  youngefl 
fon,  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  efcaped  through 
a  back  window  of  the  houfe. 

The  Indians  treated  Mr.  Sawyer  with  much 
cruelty,  but  at  length  they  arrived  at  Montreal. 
There  Mr.  Sawyer  obferved  to  the  French  Gov 
ernor,  that  on  the  River  Chamblee  there  was  a 
fine  feat  for  mills;  and  that  he  would  build  a  faw- 
mill  for  him,  provided  he  would  procure  a  ranfom 
for  himfelf,  his  fon,  and  Biglow.  The  Governor 
readily  clofed  with  the  propofal,  as,  at  that  time, 
there  was  no  fawmill  in  all  Canada,  nor  artificer 
capable  of  building  one.  He  accordingly  applied 
to  the  Indians,  and  obtained  the  ranfom  of  youug 
Sawyer  and  Biglow,  without  the  leail  difficulty  ; 
but  no  fum  would  purchafe  Mr.  Sawyer's  redemp 
tion  :  Him,  (being  diftinguifhed  for  his  bravery, 
whfch  had  proved  fatal  to  a  number  of  their  brefh- 
]>?  2  ren) 


44  LANCASTER. 

ren)  they  were  determined  to  immolate. — The  vi&im 
was  accordingly  led  forth  and  actually  fattened  to 
the  ftake,  environed  with  materials,  fo  difpoled 
as  to  effec~l  a  lingering  death. — The  favages,  fur- 
rounding  the  unfortunate  prifoner,  began  fo  antic 
ipate  the  horrid  pleafure  of  beholding  their  cap 
tive  writhing  in  tortures  amidft  the  rifmg  flames, 
and  of  rending  the  air  with  their  difmal  yells. — On  a 
fudden  a  Friar  appeared,  and,  with  great  folemni- 
ty,  held  forth  what  he  declared  to  be  the  key  to  the 
gates  of  Purgatoiy ;  and  told  them  unlefs  they  im 
mediately  releafed  their  prifoner,  he  would  inflantly 
unlock  thofe  gates,  and  fend  them  headlong  therein 
to.  Superftition  prevailed,  and  wrought  the  deliver 
ance  of  Mr.  Sawyer  :  For  they,  at  once,  unbound 
him,  and  gave  him  up  to  the  Governor.  In  one  year 
he  compleated  a  mill,  when  he  and  Biglow  were 
discharged.  They  detained  his  fon  Elias  one  year 
longer,  to  inftruct  them  in  the  art  of  fawing  and 
keeping  the  mill  in  order  ;  when  he  was  amply  re- 
warded,  and  fent  home  to  his  friends  ;  where  his 
fa'ther  and  he  both  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and 
were  gathered  to  their  graves  in  peace. 

On  the  i6th  of  July,  1707,  Mr.  Jonathan  White 
was  killed  by  the  Indians.  And  on  the  1 8th  of 
Auguft  in  this  fame  year,  1707,  twenty  four  flout 
Indians,  who,  according  to  their  own  account,  had 
all  been  captains,  came  to  Marlborough,  and.  be- 
fides  other  mifchief  they  did  there,*  captivated  Mr. 
Jonathan  Wilder,  a  native  of  Lancafter:  The  next 
day,  they  were  purfued  by  about  thirty  people  from 

Marlborougfc 

*  See  mention  of  this  fame  company,  in  the  account  of  Northborough, 


LANCASTER.  45 

Maiiborough  and  La'nca-fler,  and  overtaken  in  what 
is  now  Sterling'.    The  front  of  our  men  came  upon 
them  before  they  had  the  lead  apprehenfion  of  a  pur- 
fuit.- — Their  packs  were  all   flung,  and,  it  being  a 
mi  fly  day,   their  cafes  were  on  their  guns  : — And, 
therefore,  had  our  men  all  run  down  upon   them, 
they    might  probably    have    deftroyed,    or  taken 
them  all,  and  faved  the  life  of  the  captive. — The 
enemy,  at  the  firft  appearance  of  our  men,  had  de 
termined  to  refign  themfelves  to  their  mercy — But 
obferving  only  ten  of  the  thirty,  to  come  towards 
them,  they  took  courage,  unflung  their  packs,  and 
fought  like  men,  having  firft  difpatched  their  cap 
tive   Mr.  Wilder. — In   this   aftion  the  enemy  loft 
nine  of  their  number,  and  all  their  packs  :  And  on 
our  part   two    men,    Mr.    John  Farrar  arid    Mr. 
Richard  Singletary,    were  killed,   and    two,    Mr. 
Ephraim  Wilder   and  Mr.  Samuel  Stevens,   were 
wounded,  but  not  mortally. 

On  Auguft  5th,  1710,  a  party  of  the  enemy 
coming  by  advantage  of  the  bufhes  very  near  to 
Mr.  Nathaniel  and  Mr.  Oliver  Wilder,  and  an 
Indian  fervant  at  their  labour  in  the  field,  the 
fervant  was  killed,  but  the  men  efcaped  to  the  gar- 
rifon. — And  this  tvas  the  lajl  mifchief  done  by  the 
enemy,  in  Lancafter. — After  that  period  they  were 
a  peaceable,  profperous,  happy  people  ;  they  grew 
and  flourifhed,  multiplied  and  increafed,  they 
fpread  and  extended  their  branches  far  and  wide : 
So  that,  with  the  greateft  propriety,  the  people  of 
this  place  may  adopt  the  words  of  the  pfalmift,  in 
reference  to  Ifrael,  and  fay, — ."  Many  a  time  have 
D  3  they 


46  LANCASTER* 

they  affii&ed  me  from  my  youth — many  a  time 
have  they  afflifted  me  from  my  youth,  yet  they  have 

not  prevailed  again  ft  me." 1  would  here  obferve, 

the  account  given  above  of  the  defolations,  and  ca 
lamities  which  befel  the  town  of  Lancafter,  is, 
chiefly  in  the  words  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harrington, 
in  a  century  fermon  he  preached  there  on  the  28th 
.of  May,  1753. 

J  will  now   proceed  to  give  fome  particular  ac 
count  of  the  Ecclefiaflical  ftate  of  this  town,  from 
its    beginning. — It  was  incorporated,  as  we  have 
laid,   in    1653.     The  following  year,    Mr.  Jofeph 
Rowlandfon  preached  among  the  people,  and  con 
tinued  fo  doing,  until  April  14th,  1658,  when  they 
invited  him  to  fettle  with  them  in   the  work  of  the 
miniftry  ;  their  invitation  he  accepted,  and  proba 
bly  w.as  ordained  tho*  fame  year,  at  which  time,  110 
doubt  the  Church  of  Chrifl  was  gathered  here  :  Al 
though  of  thefe  things  we  cannot  fpeak  with  cer 
tainty,  fmco    the  records   of  the   Church,   in  Mr. 
Rowlandfon's  time,  were,  in  all  probability,  con- 
fumed  in  his  garrifon.     As  the   town  was  wholly 
broken  up    and   deftroyed,   as    above  related,   in 
1676,  fo  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowlandfon  continued  with 
the  people  from  the  firfl   but  about  22  years,  and 
died   before    th;i   refcttlemcnt  of   the   town. — The 
place  lay  in  ruins  about  four  years.  In  1680,  they 
began  to  refettlc  :   And  divers  gentlemen  preached 
with  them.     In  February,  1688,    Mr.  John  Whit 
ing  was  invited  to  preach  with  them  on  probation ; 
,and  continued  preaching   until    November,  1690, 
when  he  was  invited  to  take  the  overfight  of  them 

in 


1  A  N  C  A  S  T  E  R.  47 

hi  the  Lord  ;  and  he,  accepting  their  invitation 
was,  probably,  faon  after  ordained. 

But  we  cannot  be  certain  of  the  precife  day,  as 
no  records  of  the  time  of  his  miniftry  have  ever 
been  found. — He  continued  but  a  mort  fpace,  in 
the  facred  office,  fceing  cut  off,  by  the  enemy,  as 
before  mentioned,  on  the  nth  o.f  September,  1697. 

In  May,  1701,  Mr.  Andrew  Gardner,  began  to 
preach  at  Lancafter,  and  in  September  following 
the  people  gave  him  a  call  to  fettle  with  them  in 
the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry.  This  invitation 
he  accepted,  and  his  ordination  was  appointed  j 
but  before  the  day  carne  a  fudden  and  furprifing 
death  arrefted  him  :  Being  unfortunately,  but  mor 
tally  wounded  in  the  houfe  of  his  friends,  in  his 
own  garrifon,  in  the  night  following  the  26th  of 
October,  1704  ;  the  particulars  of  which  have  been 
related  above. 

In  May,  1705,  Mr.  John  Prentice  came  to  preach 
among  this  people,  and  fupplied  the  defk  until 
February,  1707,  when  he  received  an  invitation  to 
fettle  among  them,  which  he  accepted ;  and  he 
was  accordingly,  folemnly  feparated  unto  this  fa 
cred  employment  onthe.2gth  of  March,  1708.  In 
his  day  there  was  peace,  and  the  town  grew  and 
flourimed  exceedingly  :  For  during  his  miniftry, 
from  his  diocefe  were  formed  the  towns  of  Harv 
ard,  Bolton,  Leominfter,  and  the  fecond  precmflt, 
which  is  now  called  Sterling.  He  was  a  good  and 
faithful  fervant  of  Jefus  Chrift,  continuing  in  his 
office  almoft  forty  years,  living  much  beloved  ;  and 
died  greatly  lamented,  on  the  6th  of  January,  1748. 
D  4  The 


48  LANCASTER. 

The  breach  made  upon  the  Church  and  town  was 
happily  repaired  the  enfuing  fall,  in  the  inftallment 
of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Harrington,  to  the  paftoral  of 
fice  among  them,  November  i6ih,  1748;  who  ftill 
continues  'in  an  advanced  age. 

The  Rer.  Mr.  Harrington,  through  age  and  bod 
ily  infirmities,  being  taken  off  from  his  publick  la 
bours,  the  people  of  Lancafter  have  invited  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Thayer,  to  fettle  with  them  in  the  work 
of  the  gofpel  miniflry,  as  colleague  with  the  vener 
able  Mr.  Harrington,  who,  having  accepted  their 
invitation,  is,  by  the  leave  of  Providence,  to  be  fol- 
emnly  feparated  unto  the  fame  October  gth,  1793. 

We  muft  here  obferve,  that  although  this  place 
was  greatly  frowned  upon,  in  their  early  days, 
in  the  fhort  lives,  and  premature  deaths  of  their 
firft  minifters,  yet  fmce  that  time,  the  people  have 
been  as  fignally  fmiled  upon,  and  bleffed  in  the 
long  and  ufeful  lives  of  two  eminent  minifters  in 
fucceflion,  whofe  courfes  together  make  up  the 
long  fpace  of  84  years. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Harrington,  was  firft  fettled  in  the 
miniftry  at  a    place  then  called,   Lower   AJhue.{ot> 
now  Swanzey,  in  the  ftate  of  Newhampfhire  :  Here 
he  was  ordained   November    i6th,    1741.     This 
place  was  totally  dcftroyed  by  the  Indians  on  the 
2d    of  April,   1747,  from  whence  he  was  driven 
with  his  family  and  flock.     The  people  of  Lancaf 
ter  having  invited  Mr.  Harrington  to  fettle  with 
them,  and  there  being  no  profpeft  of  the  return  of 
his  former  Church  and  flock  to  Afhuelot,  he  firft 
obtained  a  regular  difmiffion  from  them,  and  there 
upon 


L  A  N;C  ASTER.  49 

upon  generoufly  refigned  to  them  his  whole  inter- 
eft  there,  and  all  arrearages  due  to  him,  and  accept 
ed  the  invitation  to  take  the  overfight  of  the  Church 
and  flock  of  God  in  Lancafler. 

Let  us  return  ;    the   town   of  Lancaster  has  all 
the  appearances  of  age.     A  number  of  gentleman 
have  built  very  elegant  feats  here  :   Ai>d  there  are 
a  coniiderable  number  of  (lores  and  mops  in  the 
town  :  And  as  there  are  large  roads,    and  much 
travel  through  the  place,  of  courfe   much  btifinefs 
is  done  here  in  the  way   of  trade.     The  pleafant- 
nefs  of  the  place  has  invited  many  perfons  of  edu 
cation  and  fortune  hither.     And  here  they  have  a 
large  focial  library,  under  good  regulations  and  con- 
lifting  of  a  fine  colle&ion  of  good  and  Tifeful  books. 
In    this    town    there    is   eftabJiflied  a  Lodge  of 
Free  Mafons,    the  hiftory    whereof   is  as  follows. 
Upon  the  petition  of  a  number  of  gentlemen   to 
the  ancient  Grand  Lodge  of  free  and  accepted  Ma 
fons,  a  charter  was   granted   January  31,  1778,  to 
the  petitioners,  and  their  fucceffors,  for  holding  a 
Lodge  in  Lancafter,  by  the  name  of   Trinity  Lodge. 
This  is  held  on  the  firft  Tuefday  evenings  in  each 
month.     From   the   date    of   the  charter    to    this 
time,   there  have  been  initiated   166  perfons,  from 
this  and  other  towns  in   the  vicinity  :    Of  thefc 
135   have  received  the  degree  of   Fellow    Crafts; 
and  125  have  been  raifed  to  Mafter  Mafons.   From 
its  commencement  the  Lodge  has  been  governed 
by  the  following  matters,  viz. 

In    the    year    1778,    Michael    Newhall     was 
elected    Mafter,       1779?    Edmund    Heard,     do. 

1780, 


50  LANCASTER. 

1780,  do.  do.  1781,  do.  do.  .  1782,  do.  do. 
1783,  Ifaiah  Thomas,  do.  1784,  Timothy  Whit 
ing,  jun.  do.  1785,  do.  do.  1786,  Ephraim 
Carter,  do.  1787,  Timothy  Whiting,  jun.  do. 
1788,  Abijah  Wyman,  do.  1789,  Edmund  Heard, 
do.  1790,  do.  do.  1791.  do.  do.  1792,  do. 
do.  1793,  do.  was  again  chofen  matter,  but  foon 
after  leaving  the  government  was  fucceeded  by 
Timothy  Whiting,  jun. 

We  proceed  to  a  Geographical,  and  Topo 
graphical  defcription  of  Lancailer.  It  is  about  nine 
miles  in  length  from  north  to  fouth,  and  four  in 
width  from  eaft  to  weft  :  Bounded  by  Lunenburgh 
and  Leominfter  on  the  north  and  north  weft  ;  by 
Shirley  in  the  county  of  Middlefex,  on  the  north- 
caft  ;  by  Harvard,  Bolton  and  Berlin,  on  the  eaft; 
by  Boylfton  on  the  fouth,  and  by  Sterling  on  the 
weft.  The  body  of  the  town  is  fituated  on  low 
and  level  lands  near  the  intervals  ;  and  fo  as  to 
afford  an  agreeable  profpeft  of  a  confiderable  part 
of  it.  There  are  two  main  branches  of  the  Rivej 
Nafhaway.  The  north  branch  originates  from  a 
Pond  in  Weftminfter,  and,  running  through  Fitch- 
burghand  Lcorninfter,  enters  Lancafter  in  the  North 
weft  part  of  the  town  ;  and  purfues  a  foutheall 
courfe  into  the  middle  of  it,  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
meetinghoufe.  The  foujh  branch  fprings  up  from 
the  foot  of  Watchufett.  in  Princeton,  and  running 
through  Sterling  and  Boylfton,  enters  at  the  fouth- 
weft  angle  of  the  town  ;  then  running  northeafter- 
ly,  meets  the  north  branch  about  half  a  mile,  below 
the  meetinghoufe  ;  and  th«n,  kee_ping  a  northeaJT- 
tern  courfe,  enters  Shirley.  On  both  branches  and 

within 


LANCASTER.  51 

the  town  of  Lancafler  they  have  corn  and 
faw  mills.     There  are  nine   large  bridges  within 
the   town  :  Two   on  the  north  branch,   three  on 
the  fouth,  and  four  after    their  junction.     None 
are  lefs  than  five  rods  in  length  ;  and  the  firft  af- 
ter  the  confluence  of  thefe  waters  is  planked   ten 
rods.      On  the  two  branches,  and  after  they  unite, 
there  is  a  vaft  body  of  exceeding  rich  interval  land, 
of  a  great  depth  of  foil,   and  which  is  moft  excel 
lent   for  grafs,   and    produces  in    abundance   the 
befl  of  hay.     This  interval  is  alfo  good  for  railing 
flax  and  hemp  :  It  is  alfo  good  for  Indian  corn ; 
and  a  fteam  of  fog  from  the  waters  preferves  the 
corn  in  the  intervals,   when  at  the  diftance  of  ten 
or  fifteen  rods,  the  corn  will  be  deftroyed  by  frofts. 
The  river  Nafhaway  overflows  the  whole  interval, 
of  nearly  3000  acres,  twice  in  a  year,  in  the  fpring, 
and  in  autumn,  and  in  fome  places  two  miles  in 
width.     Sometimes   it  has  overflowed  the  interval 
lands   in  furnmer  ;  and  then  it  has  generally  done 
vaft  damage,  by  carrying  off  fences,  great  quanti 
ties  of  hay  and  flax,  &c.  and  deftroyed  large  fields 
of  Indian  corn.    In  1787,  byafrefhet,  a  faw  mill, 
on  the  north  branch,    about  two  miles  from   the 
meetinghoufe,  was  fwept  off,  and  about  three  acres 
of  good  rich  interval  land  wafhed  away  to  the  depth 
of  12  feet,  leaving  only  a  bed  of  cobble  ftones,  en 
tirely  ufelefs.     The  lands  rifing  from  the  interval 
are,  moftly,  plain  and  level,   on  which  the  build 
ings,  in  the  middle  of  the  town,   ftand  ;  and  rfiefe 
lands  are  good  for  all  kinds  of  grain  :  Wheat  and 
hemp  are  raifed  upon  them  in  great  plenty.     The 
higher  lands  are  good  for  wood  and  pafturage. 

George 


5*  LANCASTER. 

George  hill,  fo  called,  lays  all  along  on  the  wefteriy 
fide  of  the  town,  on  which  there  afe  a  number  of 
very  excellent  farfris  ;  it  rifes,  gradually,  high, 
but  is  not  too  rocky  :  It  is  a  moifl  foil,  abounding 
with  fprings,  and  clay  :  And  in  this  totvn  are  an 
nually  made  many  hundreds  of  thoufands  of 
brick.  There  is  a  great  plenty  and  rich  variety 
of  fruits  on  the  high  hilly  lands,  weft  of  the  town  ; 
large  and  good  orchards  :  But  there  are  very  few 
apple  trees  in  the  middle  of  the  town. 

The  growth  of  wood,  on  the  higher  lauds  is 
oak  of  the  various  forts,  chefnut  and  walnut. 
The  intervals  abound  with  elm,  buttonwood,  but- 
fnnut,  and  ftiagbark.  In  the  north  and  fouth 
and  eaft  parts  of  the  town  there  are  extenfive 
plains  covered  with  pitch  pine.  Here  are  works 
for  making  pearl  and  pot  afh.  And  the  late  Col. 
Caleb  Wilder,  was  the  perfon  who  firft  difcovered 
the  method  of  making  potafli  in  kettles. 

In  the  northeafterly  part  of  Lancafter  is  the  fine 
?md  valuable,  and,  perhaps,  inexhauftible,  flate  pit, 
furni thing  fiales  and  tile  for  the  roofs  of  houfes  ; 

and  moft  excellent  ftones,  for  tombs  and  graves.* 
Lancafler  has  a  number  of  ponds  within  its 
limits.  Cumbcrry  Pond  lies  in  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  towards  Lunenburgh,  not  far  from  the 
ilate  pit.  It  is  not  large  ;  but  what  is  very  notice 
able  is,  the  water  in  this  pond  is  obferved  to  rife 
as  much  as  two  feet  juft  before  a  dorm.  Not  far 

from 

*  This  wa*  firft  difcovmd  by  a  Mr.  Flagg.  The  Hate*  have  been  in  ufe 
shout  40  years.  The  quarry  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Jofcph  Wales.  No 
Jlates  equal  to  thefe  have  yet  been  difcovered  on  the  Continent.  Great 
ntrtnbcrs  arc  ttfcd  in  fcofton,  every  feafon.  They  are  alfo  exported  to  Vir« 
|iniat  toNrwyork,  to  Hartford  in  Connecticut,  &c.  &c.  &c. 


LANCASTER.  53 

from  this,  and  about  five  miles  from  the  meeting- 
hquje,  is  fituated  Turner  Pond  ;  there  is  a  fmall 
outlet  from  hence  to  Spe&aele  Pond,  in  form  of  a 
bow,  whence  they  take  the  name,  Speftacle  Pond. 
Near  thefe  is  another,  called  Fort  Pond,  whence  if- 
fues  a  ftream  on  which  there  are  mills  in  Shirley. 
From  Spectacle  Pond  a  ftream  runs  fufficient  to 
cany  a  faw  mill,  and  a  fulling  mill,  aud  then  falls 
into  the  north  branch  of  Nafhaway  River.  In 
the  fouthwefi  part  of  the  town  there  is  a  fmall 
pond,  called  Sandy  Pond,  from  the  border  of  which 
between  high  and  low  water  mark*,  they  gather  a 
fine  white  fand.  At  the  foutheaft  angle  of  the 
town  lays .  Clam/hell  Pond,  near  to  Berlin,  from 
whence  iffues  Nnrthbrook,  as  mentioned  in  the  de- 
fcription  of  Berlin. 

On  the  weft  of  the  ftream  which  carries  Prefcott's 
mills,  which  runs  from  Little  Pond  in  Sterling,  is 
fituated  MofTy  Pond,  oppofite  to,  and  about  the 
fize  of  Sandy  Pond.  This  laft  mentioned  pond  al 
ways  rifes  in  a  dry  time. 

We  have  now  to  obferve,  that  the  town  of  Lan- 
cafter  is  at  great  expenfe  in  building  and  repairing 
bridges  and  caufeways  :  And  the  General  Court, 
in  confideration  hereof,  granted  a  Lottery,  a  few 
years  paft,  whereby  they  might  raife  a  certain  fum 
of  money  for  thefe  purpofes.  Nev«rthelefs,  al 
though  their  rivers  occafion  the  people  much  coft, 
and  fometimes  great  lofs  and  damage  by  the. 
frefhets,  yet  the  bounteous  Author  of  Nature, 
ieemed  to  confider  thefe  things,  and  made  them 
great,  if  not  full  compenfaUon,  by  fome  fingular 
natural  advantages  in  the  town  ;  and  in  particu 
lar, 


54  M    E    N     D     O    N. 

lar,  by  the  richnefs  and  fertility  of  their  large  in 
tervals  ;  and  the  eafe  with  which  their  lands  are 
cultivated,  and  made  productive.  And  upon  the 
whole,  notwithflanding  it  has  been  curtailed  on 
every  fide,  this  is  Mill  a  very  large  and  wealthy 
town  ;  peaceable  and  happy  ;  profperous  and 
flouriihing  ;  and  the  people  are  induftrious  and 
good. 

In  this  town  when  the  general  cenfus  was  taken, 
in  the  year  1791,  there  were  214  houfes,  and  1460 
inhabitants.  The  town  is  juft  about  40  miles 
from  Bofton,  very  little  to  the  north  of  weft,  and 
14  miles  from  the  Courthoufe  in  Worcefter  a  lit 
tle  to  the  northeaft. 


M        E        N        D        O        N. 

1  HIS  is  a  very  ancient  town  indeed, 
the  fecond  in  age  in  the  county.  It  was  an  orig 
inal  grant  to  certain  perfons.  of  eight  miles  fquare, 
made  by  the  General  Court,  at  an  early  period,  we 
cannot  fay  exactly  when  ;  it  was  called  Quanfhi- 
pauge  by  the  natives.  It  was  incorporated  by  an 
Aft  of  the  Legiflature,  on  the  151?!  of  May,  1667, 
and  the  name  of  Mendon  given  to  it.  It  was  lo 
cated,  a  plan  drawn,  and  return  made  to  the 
General  Court,  by  a  Mr.  Jofliua  Fifher.  After 
the  Province  line  was  fettled,  it  was  again  fur- 
veyed,  and  a  plan  of  it  drawn  by  a  Mr.  William 

Rider, 


M     E     N     D    O     N.  5tf. 

Rider,  in  the  year  1725 ;  according  to  which  plan 
its  boundaries   and  extent  were  as  follow,  begin 
ning  at  fouthweft  corner  it  ran  eaft  feven  and  an 
half  miles  on  the  line  between  Mafl'achufetts  and 
Rhodeifland  ;  then  north  four  miles  and  40  rods  j 
then  eaft,  one  mile  by  a   river  ;.  then  north  again, 
three  miles'  and  280   rods  ;  then   weft,   eight  and 
an   half   miles  ;     then  fouth   eight  miles,  to  t£e 
firft  bounds.     But  this  meafuremuft  be  very  large, 
fmce   all  Uxbridge,   almoft   the  whole  of  North- 
bridge,  and  a  large  part  of  Upton  were  taken  from 
Mendon,  together  with  Milford  ;  and  ftill  there  re 
main  two  parifhes  in  the  town.    Its  prefent  bounda 
ries  by  a£tual  furvey,  are  fouth,  by  Rhodeifland  State, 
fix  miles  and  a  quarter  ;  on  the  weft,  by  Uxbridge 
and  Northbridge,  feven  miles    and  140  rods  to  Up 
ton  line  ;  north  weft,  by  Upton,  two  miles;  northeaft, 
by  Milford,  four  miles  and  a  quarter  ;  eaft,  by  Bel- 
lingham  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  four  miles  and 
three  quarters.      When  they  held  their  firft  town 
meeting,    or  firft  adted  as  a  corporate  body,  does 
not    appear,  nor  when  the  Church  was  gathered 
and  the   firft  minifter  was   fettled.     Here,   as  in 
fome  other  inftances  we  may  meet  with,  we  have 
to  lament  the  entire  want  of  ancient  records.     If 
ever  any  records  were  kept  in  thofe  early  days,  of 
thefe  matters,  they  were  loft  when  the  town  was 
broken  up]  in  the  time  of  the  Indian  wars,   or  in 
fome  other   way.     We  have  alfo  to- regret  the  ob- 
fcurity   and  defects  attending  fuch  records  as  are 
to  be  lound. 

In  little  more  than   eight  years  from  the  incor 
poration  of  Mendon,  commenced  the  Narraganfet, 

or 


$  M    E    N    D     O    .V. 

or  King  Philip's  war.  And  all  that  I  can  find  in 
"  Hubbard's  hiftoiy  of  the  Indian  wars,"  or  in 
"  Governor  Hutchinfon's  hiftory  «f  Maflachufetts," 
or  by  any  other  way,  is  this,  viz.  "  On  the  14th 
of  July,  1675,  the  Nipnet  or  Nipmuck  Indians, 
killed  four  or  five  people  at  Mcndon."  And  this 
was  the  firfl  mifchief  ever  done  by  the  Indians  with 
in  the  ancient  limits  of  the  MafFachufetts.  For  it 
muft  h ;-;  remembered,  that  the  colony  of  Plymouth 
was  not  annexed  to  Maffachufetls  until  the  charter 
from  vv'ilham  and  Mary  in  1691.  I  cannot  find 
that  cvejr  any  other  mifchief  was  done  by  the  In 
dians  in  Mendon,  except  the  abovcmentioned. 
However  the  people  then  here  were  in  fuch  fear  and 
danger,  as  that  the  town  was  entirely  broken  up 
for  fome  time,  and  moft  or  all'of  them  moved  off. 

K 

How  long  the  place  remained  defolate,  we  are  un- 
abie  to  fay  with  certainly.  It  could  not  be  long, 
as  will  appear  by  the  following  account  of  the  ec- 
clefiaflical  ftate  of  Mendon. 

All  we  can  find  on  record  is  fimply  this — "The 
Rev.  Jofeph  Emerfon  was  the  firfl  Paftor  of  the 
Church  in  Mendon.  He  lived  here  before  the 
war,  known  by  the  ftile  of  King  Philip's  Indian 
war."  I  add,  in  this  war  the  town  and  church 
were  broken  up,  and  Mr.  Emerfon  never  returned 
to  officiate  with  them  in  the  pa  ft  oral  office.  Tra 
dition  fays,  he  was  minifter  here  about  eight  years, 
this  will  carry  back  the  date  of  his  ordination,  and 
the  gathering  of  the  Church,  to  the  year  1667,  that 
is,  to  about  the  time  when  the  town  was  incorporat 
ed.— The  records  go  on  to  fay — 

L  «'  The 


M    E    N     P    O    N.  57 

"  The  Rev.  Grindall  Rawfon  was  the  fecond 
Paftor  of  the  Church  in  this  town.  He  was  or 
dained  in  the  2Oth  year  of  his  age.  He  died  Feb 
ruary  the  6th,  1715,  in  the  57th  year  of  his  age, 
and  37th  of  his  miniftry."  But  here  we  muft  ob- 
ferve,  his  tombftone  fays,  "  he  died  in  the  35th 
year  of  his  miniftry  :"  And  this  is  the  more  proba 
ble  for  feveral  reafons.  According  to  the  town 
record,  he  muft  have  been  fettled  in  the  year 
1678,  which  is  carrying  it  back  too  near  the  time 
when  the  town  was  broken  up  :  And  confidering 
the  then  ftate  of  the  country,  in  conftant  fear,  and 
great  danger  from  the  Indians,  it  is  not  at  all  likely 
they  mould  refettle  fo  foon  ;  but  in  the  year  1680 
they  probably  might. 

The  records  further  fay,  "  The  Rev.  Jofeph 
Dorr  was  the  third  Paftor  of  this  Church.  He 
died  March  gth,  1768,  in  the  jgth  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  52d  year  of  his  miniftry."  This 
will  carry  back  the  time  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr's 
ordination  to  the  year,  1716.  The  Rev.  Jofeph 
Willard  fucceeded  Mr.  Dorr  in  the  work  of  the 
gofpel  miniftry  in  Mendon,  whereunto  he  was 
folemnly  confecrated  on  the  igth  of  April,  1769. 
He  was  difmifled  from  his  pa  floral  relation  to  this 
Church  and  people,  on  the  4th  of  December,  1782, 
in  the  13th  year  of  his  miniftry.  This  difmiflion 
of  Mr.  Willard  was  occafioned  by  the  coldnefs  and 
inattention  of  the  people.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Willard 
was  inftalled  Paftor  of  the  Church  and  flock  of 
God  in  Boxborough,  in  the  county  of  Middlefex, 
on  the  ad  of  November,  1785,  where  he  lives  in 
E  peace 


68  MENDON. 

peace  and  harmony  with  his  people.  The  Rev. 
Caleb  Alexander  fucceeded  Mr.  Willard  as  Paftor 
of  the  firft  Church  and  congregation  in  Mendon, 
(the  fifth  in  fucceflion)  where  he  was  inftalled  the 
12th  of  April,  1786,  in  the  31(1  year  of  his  age, 
and  where  he  continues  in  his  facred  employment. 
This  gentleman  had  been  previoufly  fettled  at  New- 
marlborough  in  the  county  of  Berkfhire  for  a  fhort 
fpace. 

There  is  a  fecond  parifh  in  this  town,  which  was 
incorporated  as  a  diftinft  precincl;  for  minifterial 
purpofes,  by  the  appellation  of  "  The  fouth 
parifh  in  Mendon,"  in  the  year  1766.  In  this 
fame  year  the  congregational  inhabitants  of  this 
parifh  began  to  build  them  a  meetinghoufe  for  the 
publick  worfhip  of  God,  and  accomplifhed  the 
work  in  a  fhort  time.  And  in  the  year  1768,  the 
Church  of  Chrifl,  in  this  fouth  parifti  was  imbodi- 
ed,  and  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Balch  was  ordained 
their  Paftor.  And  on  Saturday  morning  March 
2jth,  1772,  before  daylight,  Mr.  Balch  left  the 
parifh,  without  knowledge  or  confent  of  the  people 
of  his  charge.  Mr.  Balch  was,  a  few  years  fince, 
inftalled  at  Barrington  in  Newhampfhire.  About 
one  half  of  the  people  of  this  fouth  parifh  have 
been  Anabaptifts  and  Quakers,  ever  fince  that  part 
of  the  town  was  firft  fettled,  which  was  about  90 
years  ago.  And  from  the  time  when  Mr.  Balch  left 
this  parifh,  the  congregational  intereft  therein  has 
been  in  a  declining  ft  ate.  They  feldom  have  any 
preaching  j  nor  is  there  any  prefent  profped  of 

their 


M    E    N     D     O    N.  $$ 

their  ever  having  another  minifter  fettled  among 
them. 

As  to  the  religious  (late  of  both  parifhes  in  Men- 
don,  let  it  fuffice  to  fay,  there  are,  in  general,  three 
denominations,  Congregationalifts,  Anabaptifts, 
and  Friends.  There  is  another  clafs  without  a 
name.  A  fmall  fociety  of  Friends  are  very  punc 
tual  in  attending  their  form  of  worfhip  ;  and  they 
have  a  very  decent  meetinghoufe  for  the  purpofe. 
Some  who  are,  politically,  Friends,  do  not  intereft 
themfelves  much  in  any  form.  There  is  not  in 
the  town  any  incorporated  fociety  of  Anabaptifts. 
They  who  are  of  this  perfuafion,  go  fometimes  on 
the  fabbath  to  other  towns,  to  attend  publick  wor- 
(hip,  in  their  way. 

Having  faid  what  will  be  thought  fufficient,  re- 
fpe&ing  the  religious  ftate  and  ecclefiaftical  polity 
of  Mendon,  fome  Geographical  Defcription  of  the 
town  mail  now  be  prefented  to  the  reader. 

The  land,  in  general,  is  good,  though  there  is 
fome  which  is  rough  and  hard  :  The  foil  is  rich 
and  very  productive.  It  is  moftly  high,  hilly  land, 
yet  not  very  uneven  :  And  there  is  a  fufficiency  of 
ftones  to  fence  their  farms.  The  old  parifh 
abounds  principally  in  mowing  and  pafture  land. 
The  fouth  parifh  is  better  adapted  to  grain.  The 
town  is  excellent  for  orcharding,  and  all  kinds  of 
fruit  trees.  There  are  three  high  hills  in  this 
place,  from  either  of  which  the  four  Newenglanct 
States,  may  be  feen,  in  a  fair  day.  They  are  known 
by  the  following  names,  Caleb's  Hill,  this  is  near  the 
centre  of  the  town  ;  Wigwam  Hill,  is  fituated  a  lit- 
%  2  tie 


60  M    E    N    D    O     N. 

tie  to  the  fouth  weft,  from  Caleb's  Hill  ;  and  Mif- 
kte  or  Mifqueo  Hill,  this  lies  in  the  northweft 
corner  of  the  town,  and  part  of  it  falls  within  the 
limits  of  Upton. 

The  groves  of  wood  here  are,  in  general,  very 
thrifty  and  tall,  confifting  for  the  moil  part  of 
walnut  and  oak.  There  are  fine  forefts  of  moft 
excellent  chefnut,  fuitable  for  buildings  Of 
for  fences. 

The  town  of  Mendon,  like  almoft  all  other  high, 
hilly,  rocky  places,  is  moift,  rich,  flrong  land, 
well  watered  with  numerous  fprings  and  rivulets : 
But  there  are  no  dreams  of  note,  except  two  :  The 
firft  is  Charles  River,  which  touches  on  the  eadern 
part  of  this  town.  This  River  takes  its  rife  from 
a  marfhy  place  in  the  fouthweft  part  of  Hopkin- 
ton,  in  the  county  of  Middlefex,  and  runs  fouth, 
through  Milford  in  this  county,  and  the  eafterly 
part  of  Mendon,  and  then  paffes  on  to  Belling- 
ham,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk.  The  fecond  is 
Mill  River,  which  alfo  originates  in  the  fouthweft- 
ern  part  of  Hopkinton,  and,  running  through  the 
weftern  part  of  Milford,  paffes  through  the  eafter- 
ly  fide  of  Mendon,  and  eroding  the  road  to  Provi 
dence,  joins  Blackdone  River,  near  Winfooket 
Falls,  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  in  the  State  of 
Rhodeidand.  There  is  but  one  Pond  in  this  town, 
lituated  in  the  weftera  part  of  it,  and  called  Taft's 
'JPond  ;  it  is  large,  and  affords  great  plenty  of  the 
lifual  forts  of  Hook  fifti.  There  is  no  vifible 
flream  which  runs  into  this  pond ;  but  a  dream 
iffues  from  it  fufficient  to  carry  a  grift  mill.  On 

thefe 


M    E    N    D    O    N.  6l 

thefe  rivers  and  ftreams,  within  the  town,  there  ar$ 
five  grift  mills,  two  faw  mills,  two  clothiers' 
works,  and  one  forge.  There  is  ibme  good  inter 
val  lands  upon  thefe  ftreams,  and  fome  bodies  of 
excellent  meadows,  and  induftry  might  make  more. 

The  people  fubfift  chiefly  by  farming  ;  they 
have  indeed  the  common  mechanicks,  and  one  or 
two  dealers  in  European,  Eaft  and  Weftindia 
goods  :  And  here  they  have  both  pot  and  pearl 
am  works. 

The  place  derives  great  benefit  from  the  pub- 
lick  roads  which  pafs  through  it  in  various  direc 
tions.  The  road  from  the  northerly  part  of  Con 
necticut,  paffes  through  Mendon  to  Bollon.  The 
poft  road  from  Worcefter  to  Providence  alfo  goes 
through  this  town  ;  as  alfo  a  road,  of  much  travel, 
from  Vermont  and  Newhampfhire,  and  the  north 
part  of  the  county  of  Worcefter  into  the  State  of 
Rhodeifland.  Mendon  is  fituated  quite  at  the 
foutheaft  angle  of  the  county  ;  and  is  37  miles 
from  Bofton,  to  the  fouthweft,  and  18  miles  from, 
the  Courthoufe  in  Worcefter.  When  the  late  enu 
meration  was  made  there  were  22 2  dwelling  houfes, 
and  1555  inhabitants,  in  the  place.  It  has  flood 
as  the  twelfth  among  the  towns,  in  the  proportion 
it  pays  to  a  ftatc  tax. 


£  3  BROOKF1ELD. 


BROOKFIELD. 

1  HIS  is  the  third  town  in  age,  and 
the  firfl  as  to  its  wealth  and  number,  in  the  coun 
ty,  containing,  when  the  cenfus  was   taken,   438 
dwelling  houfes,  and  3100  inhabitants.     A  num 
ber  of  inhabitants  of  Ipfwich,  in  the  county  of  Ef- 
fex,  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  tract  of  land, 
and  obtained  their  requeft,  in  the  words  following, 
"  At  a  great  and  general  Court  of  election  held  at 
Boflon  the  2Oth  of  May,  1660.      In  anfwer  to  a 
petition  of  feveral  inhabitants  of  Ipfwich,  this  court 
judgeth  it  meet   to   grant  the   petitioners  fix  miles 
fquare,  or  fo  much  land   as  fhall  be  contained  in 
fuch  a  compafs,  in  a  place  near  Quaboag  pond." 
The  grantees,    that  they    might   have  a  juft   and 
equitable,  as  well  as  a  legal,  right  to  the  land,  pur- 
chafed  it  of  the  natives,  who  claimed  and  poffeffed 
it,  and  it  was   conveyed  to  them   by  deed.     Not- 
withflanding  the  great   difadvantages  under  which 
they  then  laboured,  in  the  infancy  of  our  country, 
in  the  midft  of  the  Indian  enemy,  and  no  Englifh 
fettlements  nearer  than  Marlborough  on   the  eaft, 
and  Springfield  on  the  weft,  the  inhabitants  fo  in- 
creafed  and  flourifhed,  as  that  upon  application  to 
the  General  Court,  they  were  incorporated  into  a 
townlhip,  by   the  name  of  Brookfield,   by    an  act 
which  bears  date,  October  15th,    1673.     But  the 
court    appointed   and    continued  a  committee  of 
three  gentlemen,  belonging  to  other  places,  to  di 
rect, 


BROOKFIELD,  63 

reft,  regulate  and  ratify  all  affairs  relative  to  fettling 
and  building  up  the  town.  A  committee,  appoint 
ed  as  aforefaid,  petitioned  the  General  Court  to  be 
releafed  from  fuch  fervices,  and  prayed  that  the  in 
habitants  might  be  left  to  conduct  and  manage  their 
own  affairs,  which  was  granted  November  12th, 
1718.  The  inhabitants,  not  fatisfied  with  their 
firft  grant,  petitioned  the  Court  for  more  land, 
when  an  aft  paffed  December  3,  1719,  making  the 
town  eight  miles  fquare. 

In  the  year  1675,  not  two  years  after  its  incor 
poration,  Brookfield  was  utterly  deftroyed  by  the 
Indians,  when  the  inhabitants  confided  of  about 
twenty  families  ;  they  had  then  a  houfe  for  pub- 
lick  worfhip,  and  preaching,  but  no  fettled  minif- 
ter.  The  circumflances  of  its  defolation  are  of  im 
portance  to  be  tranfmitted  to  poflerity,  and  I  mail 
relate  them,  as  I  have  collected  and  laid  them  to 
gether  from  the  late  Governor  Hutchinfon's  hiftory 
of  Maflachufetts,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard's  hiftory 
of  the  Indian  war,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Wheeler's 
narrative  thereof.  "The  Nipnet  orNipmuck* 
Indians,  having  on  the  i4th  of  July,  1675,  killed 
four  or  five  people  at  Mendon,  the  governor  and 
council,  in  hopes  of  reclaiming  them,  fent  Capt. 
Edward  Hutchinfon,  of  Bofton,  to  Quaboag, 
Brookfield,  near  which  place  there  was  to  be  a 
great  rendezvous  of  thofe  Indians,  to  treat  with 
feveral  Sachems,  in  order  to  the  publick  peace: 
and  ordered  Capt.  Thomas  Wheeler,  of  Concord, 
with  a  part  of  his  troop,  about  20  men,  to  accom- 
E  4  pany 

*  "  Thefe  were  feated  upon  lefs  rivers  and  lakes,  or  large  ponds,    where 
now  ;•;,  and  towns  near  it."    Hutchinfon's  hiflory. 


64  BROOKFIELD. 

pany  him  for  fecurity  and  afliftance.  They  ar 
rived  on  the  Lord's  day,  Auguft  the  ift,  and  fenta 
jneffage  to  the  Indians,  defining  to  treat  with  them. 
Three  of  the  chief  Sachems  promifed  to  meet  them 
next  morning  about  eight  o'clock,  Augufl  gd,  upon  a 
plain  at  the  head  of  Wickaboug  Pond,  two  or  three 
miles  weft  of  the  meetinghoufe.  Captains  Hutch- 
infon  and  Wheeler,  with  their  company,  and  three 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Brookfield,  Capt. 
John  Ayres,  John  Coye,  and  Jofeph  Pritchard,  re- 
forted  thither  at  the  appointed  time,  but  found  not 
the  Indians  there.  They  then  rode  forward  about 
four  or  five  miles  towards  the  Nipnet's  chief  town. 
When  they  came  to  a  place  called  Mominimiflet, 
a  narrow  paflage,  between  a  fteep  hill  and  a 
thick  fwamp,  they  were  ambuflied  by  two  or 
three  hundred  Indians,  who  mot  down  eight  of 
the  company,  viz.  Zechariah  Phillips  of  Bofton, 
Timothy  Farley  of  Billerica,  Edward  Colburn  of 
Chelmsford,  Samuel  Smedley  of  Concord,  Syd- 
rach  Hapgood  of  Sudbury,  and  Capt.  Ayres,  John 
Coye  and  Jofeph  Pritchard  of  Brookfield,  named 
above,  and  mortally  wounded  Capt.  Hutchinfon. 
The  reft  efcaped,  through  a  bye  path,  to  Brook- 
field.  The  Indians  flocked  into  the  town  ;  but  the 
inhabitants,  being  alarmed,  had  all  got  together  in 
the  principal  houfe,  on  an  eminence,  a  little  to  the 
foutheaft  of  where  the  weft  parifli  meetinghoufe 
now  ftands.  They  had  the  mortification  to  fee  all 
their  dwelling  houfes,  about  20,  with  all  their  barns 
and  outhoufes  burnt.  The  houfe  where  they  had 
aflfcmbled,  was  then  furrounded,  and  a  variety  of 

attempts 


BROOKFIELD.  65 

attempts  were  made  for  two  days  and  nights  to 
fet  fire  to  it,  but  did  not  fucceed.  At  length,  Au- 
guft  4th,  at  evening,  the  Indians  filled  a  cart  with 
hemp,  and  other  combuftible  matter,  which  they 
Icindled,  and  endeavoured  to  thruft  to  the  houfe  in 
order  to  fire  it  ;  but  this  attempt  was  defeated, 
partly  by  a  mower  of  rain  which  fell  and  wet  the 
materials,  as  Capt.  Wheeler  fays  in  his  narrative, 
who  was  on  the  fpot,  and  partly  by  aid  arriving  : 
For  Major  Willard,  who  had  been  fent  after 
fome  other  Indians  weftward  of  Lancafter  and 
Groton,  hearing  of  the  diftrefs  of  Brookfield,  when 
he  was  about  four  or  five  miles  from  Lancafter, 
altered  his  courfe,  and  the  fame  night  reached 
Brookfield,  with  Capt.  Parker,  and  46  men  about 
an  hour  after  it  was  dark,  after  a  tedious  march  of 
30  miles.  And  though  the  Indian  fcouts  difcov- 
ered  him  and  fired  their  alarm  guns,  yet  the  main 
body,  from  their  high  joy,  always  accompanied 
with  a  horrid  noife,  heard  them  not.  Willard 
joined  the  befieged,  and  the  Indians  immediately 
poured  in  all  the  mot  they  could,  but  without  ex 
ecution,  and  then  burning  all  the  buildings,  ex 
cept  this  garrifon,  and  deftroying  all  the  horfes  and 
cattle  they  could  find,  withdrew  to  their  dens. 
They  were  not  purfued  being  much  fuperiour  in 
number. 

It  is  fitting  to  add  to  the  above,  the  very  partic 
ular  account,  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fifike  of  Brook- 
field,  has  given  in  a  marginal  note,  annexed  to  an 
hiftorical  difcourfe  concerning  the  fettlement  of 
this  town,  and  its  diflreffes  during  the  Indian  wars, 

preached 


66  BROOKFIELD, 

preached  December  31  ft,  1775,  and  immediately 
published.  The  account  is  as  follows,  viz.  "That 
three  of  the  men  killed  in  the  ambufhrnent,  belong 
ed  to  Brookfield,  as  above  named  :  That  when  the 
Indians  purfued  the  party  into  the  town,  they  fet 
fire  to  all  the  buildings  except  a  few  in  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  the  houfe  in  which  the  inhabitants 
had  taken  fhelter  :  That  they  endeavoured  to  inter 
cept  five  or  fix  men  who  had  gone  to  a  neighbour 
ing  houfe  to  fecure  fome  things  there  :  But  they 
all  got  fafe  to  the  place  of  refuge,  except  a  young 
man,  Samuel  Pritchard,  who  was  flopped  fhort  by 
a  fatal  bullet  :  That  the  houfe  in  which  they  were 
befieged  was  unfortified,  except  by  a  few  logs  hafti- 
ly  tumbled  up  on  the  outfide,  after  the  alarm,  and 
by  a  few  feather  beds  hung  upon  the  in  fide.  And 
though  the  fiege  continued  from  A4onday  in  the 
afternoon,  until  early  on  Thurfday  morning,  Au- 
gufl  5th,  in  which  time  innumerable  balls  entered 
the  houfe,  only  one  man,  Henry  Young,  who  was 
in  the  chamber,  was  killed.  The  Indians  {hot  ma 
ny  fire  arrows  to  burn  the  houfe,  but  without  ef 
fect. — When  the  troop  which  relieved  Brookfield, 
got  into  the  town,  which  was  late  at  night,  they 
were  joined  by  great  numbers  of  cattle,  which  had 
collected  together  in  their  fright  at  the  conflagra 
tion  of  the  buildings,  and  the  firing  and  war  whoops 
of  the  Indians  ;  and  for  protection  thefe  poor  ani 
mals  followed  the  troop  till  they  arrived  at  the  be 
fieged  houfe.  The  Indians  deceived  hereby,  and 
thinking  there  was  a  much  larger  number  of  horfe- 
men  than  there  really  was,  immediately  fet  fire  to 

the 


BROOKFIELD.  6jr 

the'  barn  belonging  to  the  befieged  houfe,  and  to 
Jofeph  Pritchard's  houfe  and  barn,  and  the  meet- 
inghoufe,  which  were  the  only  buildings  left  un- 
burnt,  and  went  off.  A  garrifon  was  maintained  at 
this  houfe  till  winter,  when  the  court  ordered  the 
people  away,  foon  after  which  the  Indians  came 
and  burnt  this  houfe  alfo." 

Having  mentioned  Major  Willard,  Capt.  Hutch- 
infon  and  Capt.  Wheeler,  it  will  be  proper  to  fay 
fomething  further  refpefting  each  of  them. — Cap 
tains  Hutchinfon  and  Wheeler,  tarried  at  Brook- 
field  until  Auguft  13th,  and  then,  with  moft  of 
their  men,  fet  off  for  their  homes  ;  they  arrived  at 
Marlborough  the  next  day,  where  Capt.  Hutch 
infon,  fatigued  with  his  journey  and  his  wound 
growing  worfe,  died  Auguft  19th,  and  was  there 
buried  the  next  day,  Auguft  2Oth,  1675. 

Captain  Wheeler,  who  accompanied  Capt. 
Hutchinfon,  and  faw  him  buried,  the  next  day, 
Auguft  2ift,  arrived  fafe  at  Concord,  where  he  and 
they  who  returned  with  him,  kept  Oftober  21  ft, 
1.675,  as  a  day  of  praife  and  thankfgiving  to  God 
for  their  remarkable  deliverance  and  fafe  return, 
when  the  Rev,  Mr.  Bulkley  of  Concord  preached 
a  fermon  to  them  from  thofe  words  in  Pfalm  cxvi. 
12,  ^  "  What  mail  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all 
his  benefits  towards  me  ?"  which  was  printed. 

Major  Willard  tarried  at  Brookfield,  and  at 
Hadley  and  the  adjacent  rxnvns,  for  feveral  weeks, 
and  then  returned  to  Groton,  where  the  fafety  of 
that  and  fome  neighbouring  towns  required  his 
prefence.  He  was  foon  after  difplaced  for  going 

to 


68  SROOKFIELD. 

to  Brookfield  without  orders,  or  while  under  orders 
to  march  another  way.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Fifke's  ob- 
fervations  hereupon  in  a  note,  are  well  worthy  in- 
fertion  in  this  place.  "  Major  Willard's  conduct 
in  altering  his  courfe  and  coming  to  the  relief  of 
Brookfield,  being  dictated  by  humanity  and  exe 
cuted  with  bravery  and  fuccefs,  has  gained  him  the 
applaufe  of  people  in  general.  But  as  it  was  befide 
his  orders,  he  was  cenfured  by  the  court  and  cafhier- 
ed,  which  difgufted  his  friends,  and  broke  his  heart. 
And  though  the  punifhment  may  feem  too  rigor 
ous,  yet  it  is  to  be  remembered,  that  if  commanders 
of  parties,  fent  upon  particular  expeditions,  may  take 
liberty  to  vary  from  their  exprefs  orders,  nothing  ef- 
fe&ual  could  be  accompliftied,  and  only  confufion, 
difappointtnent,  lofs,  and  in  many  cafes  ruin,  would 
be  likely  to  enfue." 

To  return  to  Brookfield.  The  town,  totally  de- 
ftroyed  by  the  Indians  in  Auguft  1675,  lay  in  ru 
ins  feveral  years,  and  the  inhabitants  were  difperf- 
ed.  "  But,  fays  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fifke,  in  the  fermon 
above  referred  to,  peace  being  fettled  with  the 
Indians,  fome  of  the  difperfed,  after  a  while,  re 
turned  to  the  place  of  their  former  habitation, 
and  in  conjunction  with  others,  gradually  re- 
fettled  the  town,  fo  that  in  the  year  1692,  they 
had  a  committee  appointed  by  the  court,  as 
formerly,  to  direft  and  regulate  the  fettlement  of 
faid  plantation  and  the  affairs  thereof.  But  it  be 
ing  Mill  in  the  midfl;  of  a  wildernefs,  and  always 
expofed  to  the  blood  thirfty  favages,  whenever  they 

fhould 


BROOKFIELD.  69 

fhould  take  it  into  their  heads  to  moleft  the  En- 
glifh.  its  increafe  and  improvements  were  flow." 

In  the  war  which  is   commonly    denominated 
Queen  Anne's  war,  which  broke  out  not  long  after 
the  refettlement  of  the  town,  and  continued  feveral 
years,  Brookfield,   as  well  as    many  other  towns, 
was  greatly   haraffed  and   annoyed  ;  the  Indians 
frequently   making   fudden    inroads,    killing    and 
fcalping,  or  captivating  one  and  another  of  the  in 
habitants.     During   this  war,   a   number  of  men, 
women   and    children  were    killed,  feveral  taken 
prifoners,  and  fome  were  wounded.     The  particu 
lars  are  as  follow,  as  related  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fifke, 
in  the  fermon  above  referred  to.     "  The  firft  mif- 
chief  was  in  the  latter  end  of  July  or  beginning  of 
Auguft  1692.     A  party  of  Indians  came  into  the 
town  and  broke  up  two  or  three  families.     Jofeph 
Woolcot  being  at  work  at  a  little  diftance  from  his 
houfe,   his  wife,  being  fearful,  took  her  children 
and  went  out  to  him.     When  they  returned  to  the 
houfe  at  noon,  they  found  the  Indians  had  been 
there,  for  his   gun  and  feveral  other  things  were 
miffing.     And  looking  out  at  a  window  he  faw  an 
Indian,    at    fome    diftance,    coming    towards    the 
houfe.     He  immediately  fent  out  his  wife  and  his 
two  little  daughters  to  hide  themfelves  in  the  bufh- 
es  ;  and  he  taking  his  little  fon  under  his  arm  and 
his  broad  ax  in  his  hand,  went  out  with  his  dog  in 
fight  of  the  Indian.     The    dog  being  large  and 
fierce,  attacked  the  Indian  fo  furioufly,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  difcharge  his  gun  at  the  dog  to  rid  him- 
felf  of  him  ;   immediately  upon  which  Woolcot 

fat 


7o  BROOKFIELD. 

fat  down  the  child  and  purfued  the  Indian  till  he 
heard   the  bullet  roll  down  his  gun,  the  Indian, 
charging  as  he  ran  ;  he  then  turned  back,  fnatched 
up  his   child  and  made  his  efcape,    through  the 
fwamps,  to  a  fort.     His  wife  being  greatly  terrified, 
difcovered  by  her  ihrieks  where  (he  was  ;  and  the 
Indian  foon  found  and  difpatched  both  her  and 
her  children.     Others  of  the  party  about  the  fame 
time,  came  into  the  houfe  of  one  Mafon  while  the 
family  were  at  dinner.     They  killed   Mafon  and 
one  or  two  children,  and  took  his  wife  and  an  infant 
which  they  had  wounded,  and  carried  them  off.  They 
alfo  took  two  brothers,  Thomas  and  Daniel  Law 
rence  ;  they  foon  difpatched  Thomas,  pretending  he 
had  mifmformed  them  about  the  number  of  men 
which  were  in  the  town.     John  Lawrence,  their 
brother,  rode  with  all  hafte  to  Springfield  for  affift- 
ance.    A  company,  under  Capt.  Colton,  came  witli 
the  greateil  fpeed  and  purfued  the  Indians.    They 
found  Mrs.  Mafon's  child,  which  the  favages  had 
knocked  on  the  head    and  thrown   away  in   the 
bumes  ;  and  continuing  their  purfuit,  they  came 
upon  the  Indians'  encampment,  which  was  a  fort 
of  brufh  hedge,  which  they  deridingly  called  "  En- 
glifhmen's  fort."     The  party  waited  till  break  of 
day,  and  then  came  fo  near  as  to  put  their  guns 
through  this  brufh  and  fire  upon  the  Indians,  four 
teen  or  fifteen  of  whom  were  killed,  the   reft  fled 
with  fuch  precipitation  as  to  leave  feveral  of  their 
arms,  blankets,  powderhorns,  &c.  and  their  prifon- 
ers,  Daniel  Lawrence  and  Mrs.  Mafon,  whom  our 
men  conduded  back.     This  fame  John  Lawrence, 

who 


BROOKFIELD.  71 

who  rode  exprefs  and  procured  the  company  which 
refcued  the  abovementioned  prifoners,  was  after 
wards  going  in  company  with  one  Samuel  Owen, 
in  fearch  of  a  man  who  was  miffing  ;  the  Indians 
came  upon  them,  killed  Lawrence,  but  Owen  ef- 
caped.  Mary  Maclntofh  was  fired  upon  and  kill 
ed  as  me  was  milking  her  cows.  Robert  Grain 
ger  and  John  Clary  were  pafling  along  the  road, 
on  a  certain  day,  and  being  fired  upon  by  the  fav- 
ages,  Grainger  was  killed  on  the  fpot  ;  Clary  at 
tempted  to  efcape,  but  had  not  fled  far  before  he 
alfo  was  mot  down.  At  another  time,  Thomas 
Battis  of  Brookfield,  riding  exprefs  to  Hadley,  was 
killed  in  the  wildernefs,  in  a  place  now  called 
Belchertown.  Early  one  morning  John  Woolcot, 
a  lad  about  twelve  or  fourteen  years  old,  was  rid 
ing  in  fearch  of  the  cows,  when  the  Indians  fired 
at  him,  killed  his  horfe  from  under  him  and  took 
him  prifoner.  The  people  at  Jennings's  garrifon 
hearing  the  firing,  and  concluding  the  people  at 
another  garrifon  were  befet,  fix  men  fet  out  for ' 
their  afliftance,  but  were  waylayed  by  the  Indians. 
The  Englim  faw  not  their  danger,  till  they  faw 
there  was  no  efcaping  it.  And  therefore,  knowing 
that  an  Indian  could  not  look  an  Englifhman  in 
the  face,  and  take  a  right  aim,  they  flood  their 
ground,  prefenting  their  pieces  wherever  they  faw 
an  Indian,  without  difcharging  them,  excepting 
Abijah  Bartlet,  who  turned  to  flee  and  was  mot 
dead.  The  Indians  kept  firing  at  the  reft  and 
wounded  three  of  them,  Jofeph  Jennings  in  two 
places  ;  one  ball  grazed  the  top  of  his  head,  by 

which 


72  BROOKFIELD. 

which  he  was  ftruck  blind  for  a  moment;  another 
ball  paffed  through  his  moulder,  wounding  his 
collar  bone  ;  yet  by  neither  did  he  fall,  nor  was 
be  mortally  wounded.  Benjamin  Jennings  was 
wounded  in  the  leg,  and  John  Green  in  the  wrift. 
They  were  preferred  at  laft  by  the  following  ftrat- 
agem.  A  large  dog,  hearing  the  firing,  came  to 
our  men  ;  one  of  whom,  to  encourage  his  breth 
ren  and  intimidate  the  Indians,  called  out,  "  Capt. 
Williams  is  come  to  our  affiftance,  for  here  is  h\s 
dog."  The  Indians,  feeing  the  dog,  and  knowing 
Williams  to  be  a  famous  warrior,  immediately  fled, 
and  our  men  efcaped.  John  Woolcot  the  lad  a- 
bovementioned,  was  carried  to  Canada,  where  he 
remained  fix  or  feven  years,  during  which  time,  by 
converfing  wholly  with  Indians,  he  not  only  loft 
his  native  language,  but  became  fo  naturalized  to 
the  favages,  as  to  be  unwilling,  for  a  while,  to  re 
turn  to  his  native  country.  Some  years  afterwards, 
viz.  in  March,  1728,  in  a  time  of  peace,  he  and  an- 
'other  man  having  been  hunting,  and  coming  down 
Connecticut  River  with  a  freight  of  Ikins  and  fur, 
they  were  hailed  by  fome  Indians  ;  but  not  being 
willing  to  go  to  them,  they  fleered  for  another 
fhore.  The  Indians  landed  at  a  little  diftance 
from  them  ;  feveral  fliots  were  exchanged,  at 
length  Woolcot  was  killed. 

The  laft  mifchicf  which  was  done  by  the  favages, 
in  Brookfield,  was  about  the  aoth  of  July,  1710. 
Six  men,  viz.  Ebenezer  Hayward,  John  White, 
Stephen  and  Benjamin  Jennings,  John  Grofvenor 
Jofepfa  Kellog,  were  making  hay  in  the  mea 
dows, 


BROOKFIELD.  73 

dows,  when  the  Indians,  who  had  been  watching 
an  opportunity  to  furprife  them,  fprung  fuddenly 
upon  them,  difpatched  five  of  them,  and  took  the 
other,  John  White,  prifoner.  White  fpying  a 
fmall  company  of  our  people  at  fome  diftance, 
jumped  from  the  Indian  who  held  him,  and  ran  to 
join  his  friends  ;  but  the  Indian  fired  after  him, 
and  wounded  him  in  the  thigh,  by  which  he  fell  ; 
but  foon  recovering  and  running  again,  he  was  a- 
gain  fired  at  and  received  his  death  wound." 

Great  indeed  were  the  difficulties,  difcourage- 
ments  and  hardfhips,  under  which  this  then  infant 
plantation  laboured,  fo  that  it  was  more  than  forty 
years  from  the  breaking  up  of  the  town,  and  burn 
ing  the  firft  meetinghoufe,  before  they  creeled  an 
other.  A  church  was  gathered,  and  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Cheney  was  ordained  their  firft  Paftor, 
the  third  Wednefday  of  October,  1717.  He  con 
tinued  their  minifter  a  little  more  than  30  years, 
as  he  died  December  nth,  1747,  aged  57  years, 
To  him  fucceeded,  in  the  work  of  the  miniftry, 
the  Rev.  Elifha  Harding,  who  was  folemnly  fepa-. 
rated  hereunto  September  13th,  1749.  So  rapidly 
did  the  town  increafe  and  flourish,  after  the  fettle- 
ment  of  their  firft  minifter,  that  on  March  spth, 
1750,  a  fecond  parifli  was  incorporated  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  town.  Here  a  church  was 
gathered  May  28th,  1752,  and  the  Rev.  Eli  Forbes 
was  ordained  their  firft  minifter  on  the  third  of 
June  the  fame  year.  Mr.  Harding  continued  the 
minifter  of  the  firft  precinct  until  the  people  fell 
into  a  moft  unhappy  contrgverfy  about  erecting  a 
F 


74  BROOKFIELD. 

new  meetinghoufe.  The  contention  was  fo  {harp, 
and  the  oppofite  parties  fo  uncomplying  that  they 
parted,  and  formed  two  di ftinct  religious  focieties. 
The  act  for  dividing  the  firft  parifh,  and  incorporat 
ing  the  third  precinct  paffed  November  8th,  1754- 
In  confequcnce  hereof,  Mr.  Harding  requefted  a  dif- 
iniffion,  which  was  granted  by  the  church  and  con 
firmed  by  a  mutual  ecclefiaftical  council,  May  8th, 
1755.  After  his  difmiflion  the  Rev.  Jofcph  Parfons 
was  ordained  Paftor  of  the  firfl  church  and  pre 
cinct,  on  the  23d  of  November,  1757.  A  church 
was  gathered  in  the  third  parifh,  or  eaft  precinct, 
April  15th,  1756,  and  on  the  24th  of  May,  1758, 
the  Rev.  Nathan  Fifke,  D.  D.  was  ordained  their 
fpiritual  overfeer,  and  flill  continues.  Mr.  Parfons 
continued  Paflor  of  the  firfl:  church  upwards  of 
thirteen  years,  being  releafed  from  the  ficknefs  and 
pains  of  this  mortal  flate  January  1710,  1771,  in 
the  fourteenth  year  of  his  miniftry,  and  $8th  of 
his  age.  In  about  nine  months  after  his  decsafe, 
viz.  on  October  23d,  1771,  the  Rev.  Ephraim. 
Ward  was  feparated  to  the  pafloral  office,  the 
fourth  in  fucceflion  in  the  firft  church  and  precinct. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Forbes  continued  in  the  faithful 
difcharge  of  the  minifterial  work  among  the  peo 
ple  of  the  fecond  precinct  almoft  23  years  ;  and 
on  the  i  ft  of  March,  1775,  the  paftoral  relation  was 
diffolved  by  mutual  content,  under  the  conduct 
of  an  ecclefiaflical  council,  each  party  in  charity 
with,  and  heartily  recommending  the  other.  To 
him  fuccccded,  as  fecond  Paftor  of  the  fecond 
precinft,  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Appleton,  who  was  fol- 

emnly 


BROOKFIELD.  75 

emnly  feparated  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry, 
Oftober  3Oth,  1776. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Forbes  was,  June  5th,  1776,  inftall- 
ed  Paftor  of  the  firft  church  in  Gloucefter,  Cape 
Anne,  where  he  continues,  faithfully  ferving  God 
in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son.  It  is  fitting  farther  to 
obferve,  that  Mr.  Forbes,  while  minifter  in  Brook- 
field,  went  repeatedly  Chaplain  to  provincial  regi 
ments,  in  the  laft  French  war,  to  the  weftward, 
which  qualified  him  the  better  to  endure  the  hard- 
fhips  and  fatigues  of  a  rru'ffion  to  the  weftern  tribes 
of  Indians,  which  he  was  requefted  by  the  board 
of  Commiilioners  at  Boflon  to  undertake.  His 
people  were  at  firft  averfe  to  his  going  ;  but  were 
at  length  prevailed  upon  by  a  committee  of  that 
board  to  confent,  May  3Oth,  1762,  that  he  might 
go  for  a  few  months.  He  accordingly  fet  out  the 
firft  of  June,  with  Mr.  Rice,  now  minifter  of 
Weftminfter  and  Mr.  Elifha  Gunn  of  Montague, 
for  an  interpreter  :  They  followed  Mohawk  River 
about  70  miles,  then  turned  fouthward  to  lake  Ofti- 
ego  near  Cherry  Valley,  (this  lake  makes  the  head 
of  one  of  the  main  branches  of  Sufquehannah  Riv 
er)  crofled  the  lake,  went  down  that  river  120 
miles  to  a  town  called  Onoquagie,  pleafantly  fituat- 
ed  on  the  eaftern  bank  of  the  Sufquehannah,  then, 
containing  30  houfes,  40  families,  and  300  in 
habitants,  befides  upwards  of  20  warriors.  Here 
they  arrived  June  21  ft,  1762.  Near  this  place 
were  two  fmall  towns  of  Tufcaroras.  Here  he 
preached  ;  opened  two  fchools,  one  for  adults, 
and  another  for  children  ;  gathered  a  church  ;  ad- 
F  2  miniftered 


76  BROOKFIELD. 

miniftered  fpecial  ordinances  to  them  ;  and  lefc 
them  September  ift,  1762,  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Rice.  During  his  flay  there,  he  baptized  great 
numbers  ;  fome  brought  their  children  60  and  70 
miles  to  receive  Chriflian  baprifm  :  They  were 
xnoftly  infants,  whofe  parents  had  been  baptized 
by  former  miffionaries,  or  in  the  Dutch  or  Englifh 
churches  in  the  vicinity  of  Albany. 

Having  gone  through  with  the  ecclefiaftical  hif- 
tory  of  Brookfield,  a  Geographical  Defcription 
thereof  (hall  now  be  prefcnted. 

Brookfield  is  diftant  from  the  Statehoufe  in  Bof- 
ton  between  fixty  and  feventy  miles.  The  great 
poft  road  from  Boflon  to  Newyork,  runs  through 
it  ;  and  the  fixty  one  mile  ftone  Hands  near  the 
eaftern  boundary,  and  the  feventy  mileftone  near 
the  weftern  line.  This  town  is  bounded  on  the 
cad  by  Spencer  ;  on  the  fouth  by  Sturbridge  and 
Weftern  ;  on  the  weft,  by  Weftern  and  Ware  ; 
and  on  the  north,  by  Newbraintree  and  Oakham. 
It  is  a  townftiip  of  moft  excellent  land  in  general. 
The  face  of  the  town  is  pretty  uneven  and  ftony, 
though  there  are  three  or  four  plains  of  confidera- 
ble  extent  within  it,  one  efpecially  in  the  firft  par- 
Hh,  extenfive,  excellent  for  raifmg  grain,  and  beau 
tiful  for  building  fpots,  and  large  trafts  of  mead 
ow  and  interval  upon  Quaboag  River,  which 
runs  in  a  wefterly  direction  through  the  town. 
The  main  branch  of  this  river  comes  from  Rut 
land,  another  branch  i  flues  from  North  Pond,  fo 
called,  in  Leicefter,  and,  running  through  Spencer, 
falls  into  Quaboag  River  in  the  eafterly  part  of 
Brookfield, 

The 


BROOKFIELD.  77 

The  land  is  generally  fertile,  and  richly  repays 
the  cultivator  for  his  labour  and  pains ;  and  there 
is  fuch  a  variety  of  foils,  as  to  be  fuited  to  tillage, 
grazing,  mowing  and  fruit.  All  kinds  of  grain 
are  raifed  here  to  advantage  ;  and  farmers  here,  as 
well  as  elfewhere  are  making  great  improvements 
in  hufbandry. 

There  is  fo  little  defcent  in  Quaboag  river 
for  five  miles,  that  the  current  is  very  fluggifh,  the 
waters  almoft  ftagnant,  and  the  extenfive  meadows 
on  each  fide  are  of  fmall  value  in  their  prefent 
ftate,  being  fo  liable  to  be  overflowed.  This  evil 
has  been  growing  for  many  years,  through  increaf- 
ing  0bftru6tions  in  fo  torpid  a  ftream  j  fo  that  the 
grafs,  from  being  large  and  of  good  quality,  is  now 
fo  poor,  and  the  making  it  into  hay  fo  uncertain, 
as  to  be  very  generally  rejected.  By  much  labour 
and  eKpenfe  in  clearing  the  channel  of  obftru&ions, 
this  evil  may  be  cured.  A  trial  was  made  laft  year 
by  the  proprietors  of  the  meadows,  whereof  they 
reaped,  fenfibly,  good  effefits  ;  and  hence  are 
encouraged  to  a  determined  perfeverance.  Befides 
this  flat  meadow,  there  are  large  tra&s  of  fwaley  or 
fwampy  land,  which  yield  confiderable  quantities 
of  fpwlmeadow  and  other  valuable  grafles,  to  the 
amount  of  two  tons  on  an  acre  when  made  into 
hay. 

There  is  one  large  pond  in  the  fouth  precinct 
of  the  extent  of  a  mile  fquare,  called  by  the  In 
dians  Quaboag  Pond  ;  but  now  more  generally 
denominated  Podunk  Pond,  from  a  traft  of  mead 
ow  adjoining,  which  the  Indians  called  Podunk. 
F  3  Quaboag 


78  BROOKFIELD, 

Quaboag  river  advances  directly  to  the  very  bank 
of  this  pond  ;  then  turns,  almoft  at  right  angles, 
and  runs  parallel  with  the  edge  about  twenty  rods, 
leaving  a  narrow  beach  or  ridge  ;  then  diverges 
fo  as  to  form  a  fmall  ifland,  upon  which  {limbs, 
alders  and  bufhes  are  growing  ;  then  bends  its 
courfe  and  opens  a  channel  into  the  pond,  at  the 
northeaft,  running  nearly  through  the  middle  of  it, 
and  pafles  off  in  an  outlet  atf  the  wefterly  edge. 
Clofe  to  the  fide  of  the  pond  where  the  river  en 
ters,  is  a  large  bridge,  there  being  a  county  road 
along  the  beach  of  this  pond,  for  more  than  half  a 
mile  ;  and  travellers  pafs  about  twenty  rods  on  a 
narrow  ridge,  between  the  river  and  pond,  which, 
though  very  moderately  Hoping  on  the  fide  next 
the  pond,  is  perpendicular  on  the  fide  of  the  river, 
and  is  generally  overflowed  in  the  fpring  and  fall, 
to  the  hazard  and  fometimes  fufpenfion  of  travel 
ling.  This  beach  had  formerly  a  row  of  large 
pines  and  fwamp  white  oaks  growing  upon  it. 
But  the  floods,  agitated  by  the  winds,  have  fo 
wafhed  away  the  foil,  that  the  moft  of  them  are 
dead  and  blown  down,  and  the  beach  is  gradually 
wearing  away. 

On  the  fouth  of  this  pond,  and  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  diftant,  is  another  pond,  of  not  more 
than  half  the  amplitude  of  the  former,  known  by 
the  name  of  the  South  Pond.  This  communi 
cates  with,  and  empties  its  redundant  waters  into 
the  larger  pond,  by  a  creek  or  brook,  except  in  the 
time  of  a  frefliet,  when  the  waters  flow  fo  much 

fafter 


B  R  O  O  K  F  1  E  L  D,  79 

fefter  into  the  great  pond  as  to  reverfe  the  current 
of  the  brook,  and  replenifh  the  leffer. 

There  is  another  confiderable  pond  in  the  weft 
precincl,  called  Wickoboag  Pond,  from  whence 
quantities  of  iron  ore  are  annually  collected. 
This  pond  is  fupplied  by  feveral  rivulets,  and  has 
one  large  outlet  into  the  river,  about  twenty  or 
thirty  rods  in  length,  called  Lafhaway.  Thefe 
ponds  and  rivers,  and  the  other  f mailer  ftreams, 
by  which  the  land  is  interfe&ecl,  are  plentifully 
furnifhed  with  pickerel,  perch,  and  divers  other 
kinds  of  fifh. 

On  the  rivers  and  ftreams  in  the  town,  there  are 
feven  grift  mills,  fix  faw  mills,  and  three  fulling 
mills.  Mr.  Jenks,  befides  his  mills,  profecutes  the 
blackfmiths'  bufinefs  largely,  and  has  two  trip  ham 
mers,  and  a  grindftone  carried  by  water. 

One  of  the  clothiers'  works  above  referred  to, 
is  in  the  firft  parifti  ;  a  very  convenient  fituation 
indeed  for  carrying  on  the  clothiers'  bufinefs  in 
all  its  branches.  Ellis  and  company  are  the  pro 
prietors  hereof.  About  5000  yards  of  cloth  are 
annually  dreffed  at  thefe  works.  Thefe  men  have 
obtained  the  art  of  coloring  fcarlet,  which  com 
petent  judges  pronounce  equal  to  any  which  is 
imported ;  an  art  which  few  in  this  Commonwealth 
have  attained  unto. 

In  a  confiderable  part  of  the  low  lands,  the  clay 
lies  near  the  furface.  There  is  much  clay  adjoin 
ing  the  fouth  pond,  and  clay  forms  the  bed  of  the 
river.  No  mines  have,  as  yet,  been  discovered, 
although  fearch  therefor  has  been  made  at  no 
F  4  fmali 


So  FROOKFIELD. 

ftnall  expenfe.  There  is  fome  iron  ore,  a  bed  of 
yellow  ocre  nearly  exhaufted,  and  large  quantities, 
both  of  mud  and  flone,  which  yield  copperas,  and 
contain  a  ftrong  vitriolic  quality.  Many  of  the 
wells,  both  on  high  and  low  grounds,  have  what  is 
called  hard  water.  There  are  alfo  ftones  which 
contain  fulphur ;  but  how  to  extract  it  has  not  yet 
been  discovered. 

There  are  two  large  hills,  principally  in  the  firft 
parifh.  One  is  called  Coye's  Hill,  and  fuppofed 
to  take  its  name  from  one  Coye,  a  proprietor  of, 
and  an  early  inhabitant  in  Brookfield.  This  hill 
extends  into  Weftern.  The  other  is  called  Ragged 
Hill,  probably  from  its  extreme  rough  and  rocky 
appearance.  Both  thefe  hills  are  excellent  for 
mowing,  for  pafturing,  and  for  orcharding  ;  and 
there  are  feveral  very  good  farms  upon  them. 
Partly  between  thefe  two  hills  there  is  a  large  ledge 
of  rocks,  which  in  all  probability  was  rent  afunder 
ages  ago,  by  an  earthquake  :  The  rock  on  one  fide 
is.  (helving  over,  and  the  opening  made  is  fufficient 
to  contain  an  hundred  men  ;  and  the  appearance 
indicates  that  it  was  formerly  a  place  of  rendez 
vous  for  Indians.  This  place  is  called  by  the  peo 
ple  of  Brookfield,  The  Stone  Houfe. 

The  rivers,  ponds  and  meadows,  in  this  town, 
occafion  heavy  fogs,  which,  in  fome  feafons,  have 
produced  putrid  fevers,  &c.  But  obfervation 
clearly  teaches  that  the  inhabitants  here  are  as 
healthy  as  in  other  places  ;  and  they  who  live  in 
the  low  lands,  as  they  who  live  on  the  high. 
This  place  has  been  famed  for  the  longevity,  and 

fruitfulnefs 


B  R  O  O  K  F  I  E  L  D.  81 

fruitfulnefs  of  fome  of  its  inhabitants.  In  1782, 
a  Mr.  Green,  then  above  ninety;  followed  his  fifth 
child,  a  woman  in  her  fixty  fecond  year,  to  the 
grave,  above  four  miles,  riding  ereft  and  fleady, 
on  a  lively  horfe.  He  died  not  long  fmce,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hanover  in  Newhampfhire,  aged  up 
wards  of  an  100  years.  Alfo  in  1782.  died  the 
widow  Elizabeth  Olds  in  her  92$.  year.  Herpof- 
terity  were  as  follow  ;  ten  children,  feventy  three 
grand  children,  two  hundred  and  one  great  grand 
children,  and  two  of  the  fifth  generation  ;  two  of 
her  granddaughters  being  grandmothers.  Total,  two 
hundred  and  eighty  fix.  Of  thefe,  two  hundred  and 
thirty  two  were  living  at  her  deceafe.  In  1788, 
died  Mr.  Cyprian  Rice,  in  the  ninety  eighth  year 
of  his  age  ;  and  in  a  few  months  after  died  Mr. 
Elifha  Rice,  his  brother,  in  the  ninety  ninth  year 
of  his  age.  They  were  born  at  Marlborough. 
They  left  not  a  numerous  iflfue.  There  is  now 
living  in  Brookfield  a  Mr.  Thomas  Ainfworth,  who 
fuppofes  he  is  the  laft  furviving  foldier  who  was 
in  the  famous  Lov  ell's  fight. 

It  is  fo  long  fmce  the  aboriginals  quitted  thefe 
grounds,  that  their  monuments  are  almoft  effaced. 
Once  in  a  while  a  point  of  an  arrow,  or  fome  ftone 
is  found  which  bears  the  mark  of  Indian  labour 
and  dexterity.  And  there  is  ftill  to  be  diftinguim- 
ed  the  fpot  on  which  they  had  a  fort,  and  a  cem 
etery  where  they  buried  their  dead. 

The  growth  of  wood  is  principally  chefnut, 
White  oak,  red  oak,  and  fome  walnut.  The 

fwamps 


82  OXFORD. 

fwamps  and  fwales  yield  maple,  black  birch,  aih, 
and  fame  hemlock. 

The  inhabitants  of  Brookfield  are  chiefly  farmers, 
though  there  is  a  proportion  of  mechanics,  traders, 
and  profeffional  gentlemen.  And  the  general  ap 
pearance  of  the  farms,  buildings,  roads,  and  man 
ners  of  the  people,  makes  a  favourable  impreflion, 
and  denotes  a  good  degree  of  cultivation,  tafte  and 
improvement. 

Brookfield   is  diflant   from  the  Courthoufe  in 
Worcefter,  about  twenty  miles  to  the  fouthweft. 


OXFORD. 

TlilS  was  a  grant  made  by  the  gov 
ernment  in  the  year  1682,  to  Jofeph  Dudley,  Efq; 
Governor,  to  William  Stoughton,  Efq;  Lieutenant- 
governor  of  Maflachufetts,  to  Major  Robert  Thomp- 
fon,  Meflrs.  Cox  and  Blackwell,  and  their  aflbci- 
ates.  It  .was  ftiled,  A  tracl;  of  land  lying  in  the 
Nipnet  or  Nipmug  country.  The  grant  exprefled 
eight  miles  fquare  ;  but  as  furveyed  and  located, 
it  muft  be  near  twelve  miles  in  length  from  eaft  to 
weft,  and  about  nine  in  width,  from  north  to 
fouth,  comprehending  all  Charlton,  a  part  of 
Dudley,  and  a  part  of  Ward.  It  was  originally 
bounded  weft,  on  Newmedfield,  (now  Sturbridge) 
north,  on  a  tra&  of  land  called  the  Country  Gore, 

and 


OXFORD.  83 

and  Leicefter  ;  eafl,  on  Sutton  ;  and  Couth,  by  a 
gore  of  land  and  Dudley.  It  was  furveyed  by 
Mr.  Gore  of  Roxbury.  and  a  return  thereof  be 
ing  made  to  the  court,  they  accepted  the  fame, 
and  on  the  i6th  of  May,  1683,  they  granted  the 
plantation,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Oxford. 

The  original  proprietors  of  Oxford,  in  the  year 
1686,  let  on  about  thirty  families  of  French  prot- 
eftants,  who  were  driven  out  of  France,  in  confe- 
quence  of  the  repeal  of  the  edicl;  of  Nantz,  by  Lew 
is  XIV,  in  the  year  1684.  Thefe  unhappy  French 
people,  being  feated  at  the  eaflerly  part,  or  end  of 
Oxford^  were  grievoufly  annoyed  and  diftreffed  by 
the  Indians,  and  were  foon  deftroyed,  or  driven 
away  and  difperfed  by  them.  Tradition  fays,  one 
Johnfon  (whether  a  Frenchman  or  Englifhman  is 
uncertain)  was  here  killed,  and  one  or  two  of  his 
children,  while  his  wife  efcaped  unperceived  out 
of  the  houfe,  at  evening,  with  a  child  in  her  arms, 
and  walked  to  Woodftock,  about  fifteen  miles, 
that  night,  to  a  garrifon  there.  At  what  time  this 
was  we  cannot  precifely  fay.  But  in  the  year  1693, 
a  particular  ac~fc  paffed,  empowering  Oxford  to 
fend  a  reprefentative  to  the  General  Court ;  as  ap 
pears  by  the  records  in  the  Secretary's  office  of 
this  Commonwealth. 

As  Oxford  was  then  in  the  county  of  Suffolk, 
its  firft  and  earlier  records  were  kept  in  Boflon, 
and  are  faid  to  have  been  burnt  in  the  Statehoufe 
there. 

A  deed  was  given  by  the  original  proprietors,  or 
their  heirs  and  executors,  to  fuch  as  were  there,  or 

others, 


$4  OXFORD, 

others,  of  a  part  of  the  original  grant,  dated   ]ui/ 
8th,  1713,  that  they  might  fettle  and  build  up  the 
town.     The  firft  town  meeting  held  in  Oxford  for 
the  choice  of  town  officers  was  on  the  22d  of  July, 
1713.     The  people  inhabiting  this  territory  were 
in  continual   fears   from   the    natives  ;  in    conic- 
quence  of  which,  the  fettlement  of  the  town  went 
on  but  flowly  for  many  years.     Except  what  has 
been  related  above,  I  cannot  find  that  any  perfons 
were  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Oxford.     But  Gov 
ernor  Hutchinfon  gives  a  piece  of  hiftory,  which 
muft  not  be  omitted  in  this  work.     It  is  in  thefe 
words.     "  On  the  fixth  of  Auguft,  1724,  four  In 
dians  came  upon  a  fmall  houfe  in  Oxford,  which 
was  built  under  a  hill.     They  made  a  breach  in 
the  roof,  and  as  one  of  them  was  attempting  to  en 
ter,  he  received  a  mot  in  his  belly  from  a  coura 
geous    woman,     the   only    perfon    in   the   houle, 
who  had  two  mufkets  and  t wo  pi ftols  charged,  and 
was  prepared  for  all  four,  but  they  thought   fit  to 
retreat,  carrying  off  the  dead,  or  wounded  man." 
It  is  pity  the  name  of  this  heroine  has  not  been 
preferved,  that  it  might  be  handed  down  to  lateft 
pofterity. 

The  firfl  fettlers  in  Oxford,  considering  the  then 
ftate  of  the  country,  took  early  care  for  the  enjoy 
ment  and  fupport  of  a  preached  gofpel,  and  the  in- 
ftitutions  of  Chriftianity  among  them  :  According 
ly  the  firft  church  of  Chrift  in  this  place  was  gath 
ered  January  i8th,  1721,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Campbell  was  ordained  the  firfl  minifter,  that 
fame  year,  viz,  March  nth,  1721,  This  gentle 
man 


OXFORD.  85 

man  "came  from  the  north  of  Scotland  ;  was  edu 
cated  at  Edinburgh,  and  received  the  honours  of 
that  Univerfity.  He  came  into  America  in  the 
year  1717.  He  continued  the  worthy  and  faithful 
paftor  of  the  church  and  flock  here,  until  May 
25th,  1761,  when  he  died  in  the  71  ft  year  of  his 
age,  and  in  the  42d  of  his  minifhry. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  was  fucceeded  in  the 
facred  office  by  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Bowman,  who  was 
inftalied  here  November  14th,  1764.  (This  Mr. 
Bowman  was  firft  ordained  at  Bofton,  Augufl  31  ft, 
1762,  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  more  ef- 
pecially,  among  the  Mohawk  Indians  on  the  weft- 
ern  borders  of  Newengland.  He  went  to  Onoho- 
quague,  an  Indian  town  on  the  Sufquehannah,  in 
October  following.  He  returned  the  laft  of  May, 
1763  ;  but  hoftilities  commencing  between  the 
Indians  tribes  in  June,  he  did  not  go  back  to  them  ; 
and  the  war  continuing,  he  was,  by  the  board  of 
commiffioners,  difmifled  from  his  miflion  in  June, 
1 764.) — Mr.  Bowman  lived  in  great  harmony  with 
the  people  of  Oxford  until  1775,  when  the  then 
ftate  of  the  country,  as  to  the  controverfy  and  war 
with  Greatbritain,  occafioned  differences  among  the 
people  ;  thefe  led  a  number  to  profefs  themfelve$ 
Quakers,  and  then  they  declared  themfelves  to  be 
of  the  feel,  called  Univerfalifts,  which  finally  ended 
in  Mr.  Bowman's  difmiflion,  at  his  defire,  with 
advice  of  council,  Auguft  sSth,  1782.  After  his 
removal  from  Oxford,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowman  was 
inftalied  at  Bernard,  in  the  State  of  Vermont, 
September  22,  1784,  where  he  ftill  continues,  en 
joying 


86  OXFORD. 

joying  the  affeftion  of  the  people,  in  a  growing, 
fiourifliing  town,  and  bleffed  with  peace  and  prof- 
peri  ty  in  his  latter  days. 

The  Rev.  Elias  Dudley  was  ordained  fucceflbr 
to  Mr.  Bowman  at  Oxford,  April  13th,  1791. 

In  the  town  of  Oxford  there  is  a  fociety  of  them 
who  are  denominated  Univerfalifts,  (about  a  fifth 
of  the  inhabitants  :)  Thefe,  with  fome  families 
from  feveral  neighbouring  towns,  make  a  refpe&a- 
ble  fociety :  And  they  have  erefted  a  large  elegant 
meetinghoufe,  towards  the  fouth  end  of  Oxford 
plain,  where  the  road  from  Connecticut  interfe£b 
the  road  from  Worcefter  to  Dudley.  This  houfe 
is  conftrucied  upon  the  mod  modern  plan,  with 
a  tower  and  bell.  This  fociety  have  not,  as  yet, 
any  fettled  minifler.  There  is  alfo  a  number  in 
Oxford  of  the  Anabaptift  perfuafion  ;  they  are 
deftitute  of  any  ftated  teacher. 

We  will  now  give  fome  Geographical  Defcrip- 
tion  of  this  town.  Oxford,  though  very  extenfive 
at  firft,  has  been  much  curtailed,  neverthelefs,  it  is 
dill  a  large  and  refpe&able  town,  being  about 
feven  miles  in  length  from  north  to  fouth,  and 
about  five  miles  in  width  from  eaft  to  weft.  The 
prefent  boundaries  of  Oxford  are  as  follow  ;  north, 
it  is  bounded  on  Leicefter,  Ward,  and  a  country 
gore  of  land  :  Eaft,  by  Sutton  ;  fouth,  by  a  gore 
of  land,  and  Dudley  ;  and  weft,  by  Charlton. 
When  the  late  cenfus  was  taken  there  were  150 
houfes,  and  1000  inhabitants  in  the  town.  The 
town  of  Oxford  is  not  very  hilly  and  uneven  :  In 
the  centre  thereof  there  is  a  large  and  fine  plain  of 


OXFORD.  87 

a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  and  about  a  mile  in 
width  :  This  plain  is  almoft  wholly  under  culti 
vation,  and  is  pretty  level.  On  this  plain,  the  road 
from  Worcefter  to  the  eafterly  part  of  Connecticut, 
and  to  Rhodeifland,  runs  from  the  north  to  the  f  outh : 
Near  the  north  end  of  it  flands  the  congregational 
meetinghoufe  ;  and  about  a  mile  fouth  of  this  is 
the  meetinghoufe  of  the  fociety  of  Univerfalifls  : 
Thefe  houfes  are  both  large  and  elegant  :  On  ei 
ther  fide  of  the  ftreet  there  are  many  good  build 
ings  ;  and  almoft  the  whole  plain  is  under  the  eye 
of  the  traveller  at  once.  From  the  plain  the  lands 
rife  on  all  fides,  efpecially  on  the  eaft  and  on  the 
weft  ;  but  not  very  high.  The  foil  on  the  plain 
is  good  for  grain  of  all  kinds  ;  but  not  fo  for  paftur- 
age  or  mowing.  But  the  higher  lands  are  very 
good  for  mowing,  pafturing  and  orcharding,  the 
foil  is  ftrong  and  fertile.  Dudley  hills,  fo  called, 
on  the  fouth,  which  are  pretty  high,  fall  partly  with 
in  the  limits  of  Oxford.  About  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  weft  of  the  great  road  on  the  plain,  runs  French 
River  from  the  north  to  the  fouth,  which  falls  into 
the  river  Quinebaug  in  the  town  of  Thompfon  in 
the  State  of  Conne&icut.  This  river  derived  its 
name  from  the  French  proteftants  who  firft  fettled 
in  Oxford.  On  this  river  are  fome  very  good 
meadows  of  feveral  hundreds  of  acres.  On  the 
eaft  fide  of  the  plain  there  is  a  fine  ftream,  which 
heads  in  Great  Meadow,  fo  called,  in  the  norther 
ly  part  of  the  town,  containing  100  acres,  or  more. 
By  the  fides  of  this  ftream  there  are  fome  pretty 
good  meadows.  This  brook  empties  into  French 

River, 


88 

River.  Potafh  Brook,  fo  called,  which  is  never  dry, 
is  a  fine  rivulet,  and  falls  into  the  above  mention 
ed  brook.  Upon  the  river,  and  on  thefe  ftreftms, 
there  are  within  Oxford  limits,  three  grift  mills  ; 
fix  faw  mills  ;  and  two  clothiers'  works.  There  are 
alfo,  in  the  town,  potafh  works.  There  are  two 
very  pretty  ponds  in  the  town  :  One  in  the  wefter- 
ly  part,  called  Augootfback  :  The  other  a  little 
north  of  the  firll  meetinghoufe  on  the  Worcefter 
road,  known  by  the  name  of  Oxford  Pond.  There 
are  fome  fmall  cedar  fwamps,  in  this  town,  which 
yield  cedar  for  mingles,  and  other  valuable  ufes. 
The  town  is  in  general  well  wooded  :  On  the 
higher  lands  are  oaks  of  all  kinds,  walnut  and  chef- 
nut  :  On  the  lower,  grow  afti,  birch,  maple,  &c. 
There  is  fome  pitch  pine  in  the  town  :  But  not 
much  white  pine,  at  this  day,  that  being  chiefly 
taken  off.  On  the  plain,  there  are  two  or  three 
f lores  of  European  and  India  goods  :  And  in  the 
town  there  are  all  the  common  artificers,  tradef- 
men  and  mechanics  ;  but  the  body  of  the  people 
are  farmers.  The  roads  of  travel  through  Ox 
ford  are  an  advantage  to  the  town — the  la/geft 
road  is  that  which  comes  from  Coiine&icut  through 
Charlton,  Oxford,  to  Sutton,  and  fo  on  to  Bofton, 
falling  into  the  pod  road  in  Wefton  :  The  next,  is 
the  road  from  Worcefter,  through  Oxford,  to 
Dudley,  &c.  &c.  Oxford  is  fituated  to  the  fouth- 
weftfrom  Bofton,  at  the  diftance  of  54  miles  ;  and 
from  Worcefter  courthoufe  it  is  10  miles,  nearly 
fouth. 

SUTTON, 


89 
S       U       T      T       O       N. 


1  HIS  tra&  of  land  was  originally 
purchafed  by  a  number  of  gentlemen,  of  Sacherri 
John  Wampus,  and  his  company,  Indians  who 
claimed  it.  Wampus  firil  referred  four  miles 
fquare,  for  his  countrymen  the  Indians,  which  they 
called  HaJJanamifco  ;  this  is  now  Grafton.  It  was 
to  begin  at  a  certain  bound,  which  he  fixed  upon  ; 
and  then  the  purchafers  above  referred  to,  were  to 
have  as  much  land,  as  eight  miles  fquare  would 
amount  to,  fituated  in  the  Nipmug  country,  be 
tween  the  towns  of  Mendon,  Maryborough,  Wor- 
cefter,  Oxford,  and  New  Sherburne  (now  Doug- 
lafs)  and  this  was  confirmed  to  the  purchafers, 
May  15th,  1704,  and  formed  into  a  townfliip  and 
called  Sutton,  by  an  aft  of  the  General  Court,  dat 
ed  June  21  ft,  1715.  That  part  of  the  original 
purchafe,  which  fell  to  the  eaftward  of  Haflana- 
mifco,  or  Grafton,  was,  part  of  it,  many  years  ago 
annexed  to  the  town  of  Weftborough,  and  the  other 
part,  with  fome  from  Mendon  and  Hopkinton, 
taken  to  form  the  town  of  Upton.  So  that  what 
now  is  properly  Sutton  does  not  lie  in  a  bad  fornu 
A  few  families  were  annexed  to  Northbridge,  fome 
years  ago  :  And  a  few  alfo,  at  the  northweft  angle 
of  the  town,  were  annexed  to  Ward.  The  genera.1 
boundaries  of  Sutton,  are  at  prefent,  as  follow* : 
North,  by  Worcefter ;  eaft  and  north,  by  Grafton  ; 
G  eaft, 


go  S     U     T     T     O     N. 

eaft,  by  Northbridge  and  Uxbridge  ;  Couth,  fcy 
Douglafs  ;  w«ft,  by  Oxford  ;  and  northweft,  by 
Ward.  Oxford  line  is  S.  1°  W.  Douglafs,  E. 
60°  N.  Mendon,  N.  8°  E.  Worceaer,  W.  22°  S. 

The  fettling  and  peopling  of  the  town  was  retard 
ed  for  fome  time,  by  reafon  of  wars  with  the  In 
dians.  However,  in  the  year  1716,  three  families 
had  got  feated  in  the  place,  and  wintered  there 
in  the  winter  of  1716  and  1717,  when  the 
great  fnow  fell,  as  our  fathers  have  told  us. 
This  fnow  fell  on  fome  of  the  laft  days  of  February, 
old  ftile,  and  came  fo  deep,  that  it  wholly  covered 
over  the  hut  in  which  one  of  the  families  lived. 
The  man  being  from  home,  the  family  might  have 
perifhed  had  not  an  Indian,  who  knew  the  circum- 
ftanccs.  come  to  th«ir  relief.  He  found  the  hut 
only  by  the  hole  which  the  fmoke  from  the  fire 
place  h.id  made  through  the  fnow. 

In  September  1717,  the  fall  after  the  great  fnow, 
the  firtl  child  was  born  in  the  town,  named  Abigail 
Marfh,  daughter  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Marfh,  who  was 
afterwards  an  anabaptifl  elder  in  the  town.  This 
woman  is  now  living,  lias  had  four  hulbands,  and 
ii,  at  this  time,  a  widow  ;  her  name  is  Chafe. 

The  inhabitants  of  Sutton  fir  ft  afted  as  a  body 
corporate,  or  held  their  firft  town  meeting  on  the 
3d  day  of  December,  1718,  at  the  dwelling  houfe 
oi  Mr.  John  Stockwcll.  Their  bufincfs  was  to  or 
ganize  themfclves,  and  to  clioofe  a  committee  to 
join  the  proprietors'  committee  in  order  to  procure 
preaching.  Confequently  they  muft  have  been  in 
corporated  a  little  before  by, an  aft  of  the  Legifla- 

ture 


S     U    T    T    O    N.  91 

ture,  and  vefted  with  full  town  powers  and  privi 
leges  :  And  this  was  previous  to  the  incorporation 
of  Leicefter  or  Rutland. 

The  exact  day  when  the  firft  congregational 
church  in  Sutton  was  imbodied  cannot  be  afcer- 
tained.  The  record  fays,  "  In  the  fall  of  the  year 
1720."  The  firft  minifter,  the  Rev.  John  MacKinf- 
try,  was  ordained  November  9th,  1720.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  good  abilities  and  had  his  education 
in  Scotland.  Obferve,  by  the  way,  the  early  care 
and  pains  this  people  took  to  have  the  gofpel 
preached,  and  a  minifter  fettled  among  them.  In 
about  four  years  from  their  beginning  the  fettle- 
ment  of  the  place,  they  had  a  minifter  ordained. 

Mr.  MacKinftry  differed  fo  much  from  the  peo 
ple  in  his  notions  of  church  government,  that  they 
parted  :  And  he  was  difmiffed  from  his  pafto- 
ral  relation  to  them,  September  2d,  1728.  This 
gentleman  was  afterwards  refettledin  Connecticut. 

The  fecond  minifter  of  the  town,  the  Rev.  David 
Hall,  was  ordained  October  15th,  1729.  He  re 
ceived  the  honourary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
at  Dartmouth  college,  in  the  year  1777.  After  a 
life  of  piety  and  ufefulnefs,  he  died  May  8th,  1789, 
in  the  85th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  6oth  year  of 
his  miniftry. 

Dr.  Hall  was  fucceeded  in  the  facred  office  by 
the  Rev.  Edmund  Mills,  who  was  feparated  there 
unto  June  23d,  1790.  The  people  of  the  firft  con 
gregational  church  and  fociety  have  lately  repair 
ed  their  meetinghoufe,  and  built  a  tower  to  it  : 
And  Mr,  Ebenezer  Warters,  a  man  of  large  prop- 
C  z  erty 


92  SUTTON. 

erty  in  the  town,  has  given  them  a  bell  weighing 
about  750  ft),  and  which  coft  upwards  of  8o/.  And 
Mr.  Gardner  Warters,  deceafed,  gave  30^.  towards  a 
clock  for  the  meetinghoufe. 

The  fecond  parifh  in  Sutton  was  incorporated 
by  an  act  of  Court,  October  28th,  1743.  This  is 
about  three  miles  wide,  and  fix  and  one  half  miles 
in  length  ;  fo  that  the  old  parifh  is  much  larger. 
The  firft  meeting  of  the  fecond  parifli  was  held 
December  26th,  1743.  The  fecond  congregation 
al  church  in  the  town,  was  formed  by  a  covenant, 
dated  September  iQth,  1747.  The  Rev.  James 
Welman  was  confecrated  Pallor  of  the  fecond 
church  October  7th,  1747,  and  was  difmiffed  from 
office  July  22d,  1760.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Welman 
was,  in  1768,  refettled  atCornim,  in  the  county  of 
Chtfhire,  in  the  State  of  Newhampfhire. 

Mr.  Welman  was  fucceeded  in  the  paftoral  office, 
in  the  fecond  church  in  Sutton,  by  the  Rev.  Eben- 
ezer  Chaplain,  who  was  ordained  November  14th, 
1764. 

There  is  no  record  to  be  found  when  the  firft 
Anabaptift  fociety  was  collected  in  Sutton,  nor 
when  Mr.  Benjamin  Marfh,  their  firft  elder,  was 
ordained.  Tradition  fays,  it  was  about  the  year 
1735.  They  built  a  fmall  meetinghoufe  about  a 
mile  wefterly  from  the  firft  parifh  meetinghoufe. 
After  fome  years  part  of  Elder  Marfh's  congrega 
tion  left  him,  and  joining  with  new  ones,  in  the 
year  1767  introduced  Mr.  Jeremiah  Barftow,  as 
their  Elder,  and  built  another  Anabaptift  meet 
inghoufe  about  a  mile  further  wefterly,  on  the  road 

towards 


S    U    T    T    O    N.  98 

towards  Oxford.  In  1772,  the  major  part  of  Elder 
Barftow's  fociety  became  diflatisfied  with  him  ;  he 
then,  with  his  adherents,  afked  a  difmiflion  from, 
the  reft,  and  adjoined  to  Elder  Marfh  and  the  re 
mainder  of  his  fociety.  In  January  1775,  Elder 
Madh  died  in  the  Sgth  year  of  his  age.  Mr. 
Barftow  kept  up  a  fociety  in  town,  until  1782, 
when  he  moved  away.  In  1783,  they  introduced 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Lamfon  as  their  teacher,  and  who, 
continuing  with  them  until  the  firfl  of  April,  1788, 
was  then  ordained  their  elder.  In  the  foutheaft 
part  of  the  town  the  people  have  for  feveral  years 
heard  one  Mr.  William  fiatcheldor,  who  lived 
among  them,  and  in  O6lober,  1792,  he  was  ordain 
ed  their  elder. 

About  ten  years  paft,  the  Shakers  made  confider- 
able  appearance  in  the  fecond  parifh,  in  this  town, 
but  have  forne  time  fince,  wholly  fubfided. 

There  have  alfo,  for  ten  or  twelve  years  paft, 
been  a  number  of  the  feft  called  Univerfalifts,  in 
Sutton  ;  the  moft  of  them  congregate  at  Oxford  ; 
a  few  at  Graf  ton.  There  is  one  family  in  town, 
who  profefs  to  be  Quakers.  The  number  of  thefe 
feveral  denominations  cannot  be  afcertained,  as 
many  of  them  are  unftable. 

We  will  now  prefent  our  readers  with  fome  To 
pographical  Defcription  of  the  town  of  Sutton. 

The  general  face  of  it  is  hilly  land,  of  a  deep 
loam,  pretty  rocky,  good  for  orcharding,  and  for 
Indian  corn  an^  grafs  ;  but  indifferent  for  all  other 
forts  of  grain,  and  for  flax.  There  are  feveral  mead 
ows  and  fwamps,  but  none  very  extenfive,  or  any 
G  3  way 


94  SUTTON. 

way  remarkable.  There  is  a  confiderablc*  body  of 
poor  land  in  the  fouth  part  of  the  town  ;  and  thete 
is  a  fmall  quantity  of  poor,  broken  land  in  the 
northeaft  corner  of  the  fecond  parifh.  There  is 
fome  good,  both  high  and  low  interval  land,  on 
Blackftone  River,  fo  called.  As  this  river  has  its 
fource  in  Sutton,  and  is  (ingular  in  its  formation 
and  courfe,  we  fhall  attempt  a  particular  defcrip- 
tion  of  it.  The  reputed  head  of  this  river  is  a  pond 
of  about  70  acres,  called  Rarnfhorn  Pond,  becaufe 
of  the  crookednefs  of  the  flream  which  iffucs  from 
it.  The  pond  is  fituated  about  two  miles  fouth- 
tveft  from  the  fecond  parifh  meetinghoufe.  It  has 
a  fmall  inlet  at  the  fouthwefl  part ;  the  outlet  is  at 
the  northeaft  ;  and  the  ftream  runs  northeaft  until 
it  comes  within  about  half  a  mile  weft  of  faid  meet- 
ifighoufe  ;  then  bears  away  northweft,  and  runs 
through  Ward,  within  about  half  a  mile  of  Ward 
fnectirighoufe  ;  takes  in  feveral  ftreams  in  that 
town,  which  have  mills  on  them,  particularly  one 
Coming  from  Leicefter,  called  Kettle  Brook  ;  paflfes 
on  to  Worcefter  ;  and  about  a  mile  foutherly  from 
the  fouth  meetinghoufe,  receives  Bimilick  or  Mill 
Brook,  which  comes  from  the  North  Pond  in  Wor 
cefter,  then  turns  back,  running  foutheafterly,  and 
comes  within  half  a  mile  eaft  of  Sutton  fecond  par 
ifh  meetingHoufe  ;  paffes  on  and  takes  in  the  Mill 
Brook,  fo  called,  the  outlet  of  a  large  pond,  called 
Crooked  Pond,  lying  a  little  weft  of  the  line  be 
tween  the  two  meetinghoufes  in  Sutton  ;  and  which 
is  about  a  mile  eafl  of  the  little  or  Rarnfhorn  Pond 
ftrft  mentioned,  The  inlet  of  this  pond  is  on  the 

fouthweft, 


SUTTON;  §5 

fouthweft,  the  outlet  is  northeaft,  has  a  grift  mill 
(in  the  north  parifh  near  the  pond)  wii.h  two  run 
ners,  which,  according  to  the  original  grant,  has 
the  fole  command  of  the  water.  This  pond  is 
fuppofed  to  be  fed  chiefly  by  iprings,  and  is  little 
affected  by  droughts  :  Many  people  from  the 
neighbouring  towns  bring  their  grain  to  this  mill, 
in  dry  feafons.  On  this  fame  brook,  about  half  a 
mile  below,  is  MefTrs.  Burbanks'  paper  mill.  A 
few  rods  below,  is  an  oil  mill.  A  few  rods  below  the 
oil  mill,  is  a  fulling  mill.  A  few  rods  below  the 
fulling  mill,  in  the  late  war,  powder  mills  were 
ere&ed,  but  are  fince  difcontinued.  A  little  furth 
er  down,  in  the  year  1776,  a  gun  manufactory 
was  erected,  but  is  fince  converted  into  a  man 
ufactory  for  fcythes,  axes  and  mill  irons  ;  and  here 
they  have  trip  hammers,  bellows,  and  grinditones, 
carried  by  water.  Having  defcribed  this  brook, 
iffuing  from  the  pond,  and  the  water  works  upon, 
it,  we  return  to  the  river.  The  river,  after  it  has 
received  this  brook,  bears  away,  and  runs  northeaft, 
and  eaft ;  and  takes  in  a  brook  from  a  pond  in  the 
northeaft  part  of  the  fecond  pariih  in  Sutton,  call 
ed  Dorrett's  Pond  ;  having  an  inlet  on  the  north - 
weft  ;  the  outlet  is  at  the  foutheaft.  Said  river 
then  runs  eafterly  into  Grafton.  and  there  receives 
the  ftream  which  ifiues  from  Quinfigamond,  or 
Shrewsbury  Long  Pond.  The  river  then  bears 
away,  and  runs  foutherly  through  Northbridge 
and  Uxbridge  ;  and,  about  a  mile  foutheaft  from 
Uxbridge  meetinghoufe?  takes  in  'a  ftream  which 
iffues  from  a  pond  chiefly  in  Sutton,  near  the 
G  4  fouthweft 


fouthweft  corner  of  the  town,  called  Manchaug 
Pond.  This  pond  has  an  inlet  on  the  northweft  ; 
the  outlet  is  to  the  foutheaft,  and  both  in  Sutton. 
This  outlet  runs  along  near  the  fouth  line  of  Sut 
ton,  until  it  comes  to  Uxbridge. 

Having  mentioned  the  river,  and  the  ftreams, 
we  would  juft  obferve,  this  town  is  famed  for  its 
manufactures,  its  mills,  and  water  works.  Here 
are,  one  paper  mill,  one  oil  mill,  ten  grift  mills, 
fix  faw  mills,  three  fulling  mills,  feven  trip  ham 
mers,  five  fcythe  and  ax  makers,  one  hoe  maker  ; 
feveral  who  work  at  nail  making  ;  and  fix  works 
for  making  of  potafti.  But  here  are  no  mines,  no 
forge,  furnace,  pearlfliery,  nor  fifh  of  any  confe- 
quence. 

There  are  two  or  three  natural  curiofities  worthy 
•f  particular  notice. 

As  firft,  In  the  weft  part  of  Sutton,  within  fixty 
rods  of  the  rife  of  the  inlet  of  Ramfhorn  Pond, 
which  is  the  head  of  Blackftone  River  running 
to  Providence  and  falling  into  the  fea  at  JSriftol,  is  a 
£rook  fo  large  as  to  carry  a  faw  mill  in  Sutton,  then 
bears  away  into  Oxford,  joins  French  River,  which 
unites  with  the  river  Quinebaug,  and  enters  the  fea 
at  Newlondon. 

Secondly,  A  few  rods  weft  of  the  fecond  parifti 
meetinghoufe,  there  is  a  fwamp,  having  two  out 
lets  ;  one  at  the  fouthweft  ;  the  other  at  the  north- 
eaft  :  Both  thefe  outlets  enter  Blackftone  River, 
above  defcribed,  at  about  one  mile's  di fiance  from 
each  other  :  But  the  river  is  eftimated  to  run  ten 
or  twelve  miles,  after  the  entrance  of  that  on  the 

wefterly 


S    U    T    T    O    N.  97 

tvefterly  fide,  before  it  returns  and  takes  in  that  on 
the  eaft. 

Thirdly,  In  the  foutheafterly  part  of  the  town 
is  a  cavern  in  the  earth  or  rocks,  commonly 
called  Purgatory.  The  rocks  on  each  fide  of 
the  chafm  evidently  appear  to  have  been  rent 
afunder.  People  may  enter  fome  rods  under 
the  ground  or  rocks,  and  there  are  cracks  down 
which  they  drop  pebbles,  and  after  thefe  ftrike  the 
fides  alternately  feveral  times,  they  are  heard  to 
fall  into  the  water  ;  and  a  brook  iflues  out  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hill. 

It  may  be  acceptable  to  give  a  more  particular 
defcription  of  this  place,  called  Purgatory. 

It  is  the  fide  of  a  hill,  which  confifts  of  vail  ledg 
es  of  rocks  :  Where  the  natural  defcent  begins,  a 
chafm  has  been  formed  of  perhaps  thirty,  and  in 
fome  places,  forfey  feet  in  width,  in  thefe  ledges, 
by  fome  violent  concuflion,  which  left  this  body 
of  ftones  of  all  ftiapes  and  fizes,  to  fall  in  :  A- 
bove,  it  is  all  open  to  the  heavens  ;  and  the  ledg 
es,  on  either  fide,  are  from  five  to  ten,  and  fo  on 
to  twenty,  and  even  forty  feet  in  height.  This 
chafm  is,  perhaps,  near  eighty  rods  in  length  ; 
and  the  defcent  is  gradual,  and  not  very  diffi 
cult.  Where  the  greateft  depth  is,  water  iffues 
from  crevices  in  the  rocks,  and  hangs  in  icicles, 
and  even  in  folid  bodies  of  ice,  not  only  in 
May,  as  I  have  feen,  but  in  June,  although  the 
defcent  is  to  the  fouth.  Some  fmall  caverns  were 
formed  by  the  falling  of  thefe  rocks,  through 
which  perfons  have  defcendpd,  and  come  out  feve 
ral  rods  below,  This  is  a  moft  flupendous  place, 

and 


98  S    U    T    T    O  '  tf. 

and  fills  the  mind  of  the  beholder  with  moft  exalt 
ed  ideas  of  the  infinite  power  of  the  great  Creator  of 
ill  things,  "  who  removeth  the  mountains,  and  they 
know  not  ;  who  fhaketh  the  earth  out  of  its  place, 
and  the  pillars  thereof  tremble."  After  all,  no 
defcription  given  of  this  place,  by  another,  will  en 
able  perfons  to  form  juft  and  adequate  conceptions 
of  it. 

The  growth  of  wood  in  Sutton,  is  oak  of  all 
forts,  and  what  they  call  the  oak  chefnut,  the  bark 
whereof  is  like  the  common  gray  oak,  but  the  leaves 
refemble,  almoft  exactly,  thole  of  the  chefnut  tree  ; 
walnut  of  all  kinds  ;  great  plenty  of  chefnut ;  con- 
fiderable  of  butternut ;  but  little  of  buttonwood.  in 
the  low  lands  the  wood  is  am,  beech,  birch,  elm  of 
all  forts,  maple,  white  and  pitch  pine.  They  have 
alfo  faflafras,  farfaparilla,  and  alders.  Here  are  to 
be  found  ginfeng,  and  the  cohufh  root,  of  fpecial 
medicinal  qualities. 

There  is  much  travelling  through  this  town.  The 
principal  roads  are — one  coming  from  Connecticut, 
through  Oxford,  and  patting  from  weft  to  eaft, 
through  the  town.  About  three  miles  weft  of  the 

o 

firft  parifh  meetinghoufe  this  road  parts  ;  the  left 
hand  road  pafles  by  the  meetinghoufe,  and  fo  on 
through  Grafton,  Weftborough,  and  Southbor- 
ough,  and  leads  to  Bofton,  falling  into  the  poft 
*oad  in  Wefton.  The  right  hand  road,  at  faid 
parting,  paffes  on  about  two  miles  fouth  of  faid 
meetinghoufe,  and  enters  what  is  called  the  middle 
road  in  Uxbridge,  and  fo  goes  on,  through  Men- 
dou,  to  Bofton.  Another  principal  road,  is  a  coun 
ty 


LEICESTER.  99 

ty  road  from  Worcefter,  paffing  from  north  to  fouth 
through  the  town,  by  borh  meetinghoufes  :  At  the 
fouth  meetinghoufe  it  parts,  and,  by  various  part 
ings,  leads  to  Douglafs  and  the  weft  part  of  Ux- 
bridge. 

There  is  another  county  road,  which  leads  from 
Uxbridge  to  Worcefter,  through  the  eaft  part  of 
Sutton.  This  was  lately  in  contemplation  to  be 
made  the  poft  road  from  Worcefter  to  Providence. 

The  town  of  Sutton  is  diftant  from  the  State- 
houfe  in  Bofton  46  miles  to  the  fouthweft.  And 
from  Worcefter  courthoufe,  it  is  fix  miles  to  the 
north  parifh  meetinghoufe  ;  and  to  the  fouth  parifh 
meetinghoufe,  to  the  fouth  nine  miles. 

This  is  a  large  and  flourifhing  town,  the  fecond 
in  wealth  in  the  county ;  and  when  the  cenfus  was 
taken  in  1791,  there  were  2642  inhabitants  there 
in. 


LEICESTER. 

1  HE  townfhip  of  Leicefter  was  grant 
ed  by  the  General  Court,  on  the  tenth  of  Februa 
ry,  1713,  to  Col.  Jofhua  Lamb,  of  Roxbury,  and 
others,  his  affociates  ;  and  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
the  fame  month  and  year,  the  Court,  by  a  particu 
lar  refolve  or  aft,  gave  this  tra&  of  land  the  name 
of  Leicefter.  The  natives  called  the  place  Towtaid; 

and  i 


loo  L  E"I  C  E  S  T  E  R: 

and  by  the  Englifh  it  was  ufually  called  Strawber 
ry  Hill.  The  place  was  not  incorporated,  and 
vefled  with  town  powers  and  privileges,  until  the 
clofe  of  the  year  1720,  or  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1721  :  For  the  firfl  town  meeting  held  in 
Leicefler  was  on  the  fixth  of  March,  1721.  A  fur- 
vey  of  this  grant  being  ordered,  and  a  return  there 
of  made,  the  General  Court  cflablifhed  the  lines 
and  boundaries  of  it  by  a  fpecial  aft,  on  the  ipth 
of  January,  1714.  The  traft  was  to  be  eight  miles 
fquare  ;  and  was  granted  on  thefe  conditions,  that 
the  proprietors  mould  referve  a  fufficient  quantity 
of  land  for  the  ufe  of  the  mini  dry  and  fchools, 
and  fee  that  fifty  families  were  fettled  thereon  in 
feven  years.  The  proprietors  accordingly,  at 
a  meeting  in  Boflon,  on  the  2gd  of  February, 
1713,  voted  to  give  one  half  of  the  townfhip 
to  fifty  families  who  fhould  fettle  thereon,  in 
that  fpace  of  time.  That  number  of  families  hav 
ing  removed  to,  and  fettled  at  Leicefler,  the  propri 
etors,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Boflon,  on  the  23d  of 
July,  1722,  chofe  a  committee,  confiflingof  Wil 
liam  Dudley  and  Jofhua  Lamb,  Efqrs;  Mr.  Nathan 
iel  Kenny,  Mr.  Samuel  Tyler,  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Green,  to  make  and  execute  a  deed  of  the  eafterly 
half  of  Leicefler,  lying  weft  of  and  adjoining  to 
Worcefler  ;  eaft  of  Brookfield,  fouth  of  Rutland, 
and  north  of  a  gore  of  land  lying  between  Oxford 
and  Leicefter,  to  Mr.  John  Stebbins,  and  others  ; 
which  deed  bears  date  January  8th,  1724  ;  and 
tvas  recorded  November  26th,  1729,  Libro  29th, 
page  329  of  the  records  of  the  county  of  Middle-* 

(ex. 


LEICESTER.  iot 

fex*.  This  grant  was  intended  to  be  eight  miles 
fquare  :  But  the  meafure  was  large,  and  included 
the  whole  of  what  is  now  Spencer  :  And  at  the 
north  end,  two  miles  in  width  and  four  in  length 
were  taken  off  to  help  form  the  town  of  Paxton,  in 
1765 :  And  at  the  foutheaft  part  of  the  town,  about 
2500  acres  were  taken  off  to  aid  in  making  up  the 
town  of  Ward,  in  1778.  Leicefter  is  flill  a  very 
considerable  town,  and  contained  when  the  enume 
ration  was  made,  nearly  1100  inhabitants. — It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Paxton  ;  on  the  eaft  by 
Worcefler  and  Ward  ;  on  the  fouth  by  Oxford  ; 
and  on  the  weft  by  Spencer. 

The  firjl  fettlers  of  Leicefter,  like  the  people  in 
general,  of  that  day,  paid  early  attention  to  relig 
ion,  to  the  fupport  of  the  gofpel,  and  the  inftitu- 
tions  of  Chrift  among  them.  When  the  congre 
gational  church  in  this  place  was  gathered,  cannot 
now  be  exaftly  afcertained,  as  there  were  no  church 
records  kept  CVT  preferved,  till  within  about  40 
years.  But  the  probability  is  this,  that  the  church 
was  formed  at  the  time  of  the  firft  minifter's  being 
fettled  with  them,  who  was  the  Rev.  David  Par- 
fons.  This  Mr.  Parfons  was  ordained  at  Maiden, 
near  Bofton,  but  foon  removed  with  a  considerable 
part  of  his  people,  to  Leicefter,  where  he  was  in- 
ftalled,  by  the  beft  account  to  be  now  had,  Septem 
ber  15th,  1721.  He  did  not  continue  long  in  the 
miniftry  at  Leicefter,  but  was  drfmiifed  from  his 
paftoral  relation  to  that  flock,  and  died  in  about 
two  years  after.  He  was  fucceeded  in  the  facred 
ofjice,  at  Leicefter,  by  the  Rev,  David  Goddard, 

who 


102  LEICESTER. 

who  was  folemnly  confecratcd  thereto  June  3Oth, 
1736.  He  was  not  fuffcred  to  continue  long  with 
this  people,  by  reafon  of  death  ;  for  being  on  a 
journey,  at  Framingham,  he  was  there  feized  with 
a  fever  which  put  a  period  to  his  days  January 
ipth,  1754,  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
1 3th  of  his  miniftry. 

The  Rev.  Jofeph  Roberts  fuccceded  Mr.  God- 
dardin  the  miniftry  at  Leicefter,  whereunto  he  was 
ordained  Oftober  23d,  1754,  and  he  was  difmiffed 
therefrom  December  15th,  1762.  To  him  fuc- 
ceeded  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Conklin,  who  was  feparated  thereunto 
on  the  23d  of  November,  1763,  and  ftill  continues 
in  office. 

There  is  a  confiderable  fociety  of  Anabaptifts  in 
Leicefter,  and  which  has  been  of  long  {landing. 
Their  firft  teacher  was  Mr.  Thomas  Green,  a  phy- 
fician.  After  his  death,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Fofter, 
A.  M.  was  ordained  among  them  ;  but  for  want 
of  fupport  he  removed,  and  has  been  refettled  in 
the  city  of  Newyork  ;  where  he  is  a  worthy  minif- 
ter,  and  has  lately  received  the  degree  of  Doftor 
of  Divinity.  The  Anabaptift  fociety  in  Leicefter, 
have  for  their  prefent  teacher  Mr.  Nathan  Dana. 
Their  houfe  of  worfhip  is  in  the  fouth  part  of  the 
town. 

Alfo,  there  is  in  Leicefter,  a  number  of  the  peo 
ple  called  Friends,  or  Quakers,  who  have  a  very 
good  houfe  for  their  way  of  worfhip,  ere&ed  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town  in  the  year  1791- 

Notwithftanding 


LEICESTER.  103 

Notwithftanding  the  difference  of  feruiment,  in 
religious  matters,  between  the  various  denomina 
tions  of  the  people  of  Leicefter,  the  greateft  liberal 
ity  and  cordiality  prevail,  both  in  their  town  meet 
ings,  and  family  connexions  and  intercourfe. 

JThere  is  an  Academy  eftabliihed  in  this  town, 
and  called  Leice/ler  Academy,  for  the  purpofes  of 
promoting  true  piety  and  virtue,  and  for  the  edu 
cation  of  youth  in  the  Englifh,  Latin,  Greek,  and 
French  languages  ;  together  with  writing,  arith- 
metick,  and  the  art  of  fpeaking  ;  alfo  practical  ge 
ometry,  logick,  philofophy,  and  fuch  other  of  the 
liberal  arts  and  fciences  or  languages,  as  opportu 
nity  may  hereafter  permit.  Ebenezer  Crafts,  Efq; 
of  Sturbridge,  and  Jacob  Davis,  Efq;  of  Charlton, 
in  the  county  of  Worcefter,  generoufly  gave  a  large 
and  commodious  manfion  houfe,  lands  and  ap 
purtenances,  in  Leicefter,  for  an  Academy.  This 
Academy  was  incorporated  by  an  acl;  of  the  Legif- 
lature,  March  23d,  1784,  and  truftees  were  ap 
pointed  ;  their  number  is  never  to  be  more  than 
fifteen,  nor  lefs  than  eight] 

The  principal  inflruclor,  ex  officio,  is  always  to 
be  one. 

The  firft  truftees,  appointed  by  the  Court,  were, 
Ebenezer  Crafts,  Efq;  of  Sturbridge ;  Jacob  Davis, 
Efq;  of  Charlton  ;  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Efq;  of  Prince 
ton  ;  Hon.  Samuel  Baker,  Efq;  of  Berlin  ;  Hon.  Le- 
vi  Lincoln  and  Jofeph  Allen,  Efqrs.  of  Worcefter; 
Hon.  Seth  Wafhburn,  Efq;  and  Rev.  Benjamin 
Conklin,  of  Leiceftej-";  Rufus  Putman,  Efq;  of  Rut 
land;  Rev.  Jofhua  Paine,  of  Sturbridge ;  Rev.  Jo-  ' 

feph 


104  LEICESTER. 

feph  Sumner,  of  Shrewfbury  ;  Rev.  Archibald 
Campbell,  of  Charlton  ;  Rev.  Jofeph  Pope,  of 
Spencer;  Hon.  Timothy  Danielfon,  Efq;  of  Brim- 
field. 

Whenever  any  vacancy  happens  in  the  board  of 
truflees,  the  remainder  are  to  ele6l  fome  perfon  to 
fill  the  place. 

The  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Efq;  was  ekaed  Prefi- 
dent,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin,  Viceprcfident ; 
the  Rev.  Jofeph  Pope,  Secretary ;  Jofeph  Allen, 
Efq;  Treafurer. 

PRECEPTORS.  Benjamin  Stone,  A.  M.  was  the 
firfl  Preceptor,  Thomas  Payfon,  A.  B.  afliftant 
Preceptor  ;  Amos  Crofby,  A.  M.  Samuel  Sum 
ner,  A.  M.  David  Smith,  A.  B.  Ebenezcr  Adams, 
A.  B.  the  prefent  Preceptor  ;  John  Pierce,  pref- 
ent  afliftant  Preceptor. 

Tlje  prefent  Truftees  of  Leicefter  Academy,  are, 
The  Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Efq;  Prefident;  Hon.  Sam- 
uel  Baker,  Efq;  Hon.  Seth  Wafhburn,  Efq;  Hon. 
Levi  Lincoln,  Efq;  Jofeph  Allen,  Efq;  Treafurer ; 
Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin,  Viceprefident ;  Rev.  Jofti- 
ua  Paine  *  Rev.  Jofeph  Sumner ;  Rev.  Jofeph  Pope, 
Secretary  ;  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell;  Rev.  Daniel 
Grofvenor;  Capt.  Thomas  Newell,  Leicefter;  Dea 
con  Jonas  Howe,  Rutland  ;  Hon.  Dwight  Foiler, 
Efq;  and  the  Hon.  Timothy  Newell,  Efq. 

Befides  the  buildings  and  lands  given  by  Eben- 
ezer  Crafts  and  Jacob  Davis,  Efqrs;  the  town  of 
Leicefter  gave,  £  500 

Hon.  Mofes  Gill,  Efq;  150 

Rufus  Putnam?  Efq;  100 

Capt. 


LEICESTER. 

Capt.  Thomas  Newhall,  .  £  100 

Col.  Thomas  Denny,  ~  -  100 

Jeduthun  Baldwin,  Efq;  -  100 

Mr.  Reuben  Swan,  50 

Mr.  John  Southgate,  -  30 

Col.  Samuel  Denny,  .  go 

Jofeph  Allen.  Efq;  30 

Ifaiah  Thomas,  Efq;  -  -  20 

Caleb  Ammidown,  Efq;  18 

Hon.  Timothy  Paine,  Efq;  15 

Capt.  Samuel  Green,  -  15 

Capt.  William  Watfon,  12 

Mr.  Samuel  Green,  jun.  .    -  10 

Mr.  Samuel  Watfon,  -  10 

Mr.  Peter  Taft,  -  10 

Mr.  Phinehas  Jones,  10 

Mr.  John  Peirce,  -  -          10 

Befides  the  above  funds  for  the  fupport  of  In- 
ftru&ors  for  this  academy,  the  General  Court  grant 
ed  in  1792,  a  townfhip  of  land,  in  the  diflricl:  of 
of  Maine,  of  fix  miles  fquare  to  the  ufe  of  this 
academy.  Alfo  the  Hon.  Judge  Gill  has  given  a 
number  of  well  chofen  books,  which  coft  30!. 
fterling  in  England,  to  the  academy,  for  the  ufe  of 
the  inftruclors,  andalfo  for  the  ufe  of  the  ftudents, 
under  certain  regulations. 

Some  Topographical  Defcription  of  this  tow* 
mail  now  be  attempted. 

Leicefler  is  fituated  upon  the  height   of  laud 

between  the  Atlantick  Ocean,  eaft  and  fouth,  and 

Connecticut    River  on    the   weft.     The   town  is 

very  hilly  and  uneven  \  it  is  indeed  famed  for  its 

H  hills, 


io6  LEICESTER. 

hills,  but  thefe  are  moift,  fpringy  and  rocky 
yet  not  exceedingly  fo.  The  foil  is  pretty  good, 
deep  and  ftrong,  but  rather  cold  clayey  and  wet, 
not  fo  well  adapted  to  grain  as  to  grafs  and  paftur- 
age  :  It  is  pretty  good  for  orcharding  and  fruit 
trees  of  all  kinds. 

There  are  divers  hills  of  note  and  fame  in  the 
town  ;  the  firft  we  (hall  mention,  and  the  mofl 
confiderable,  is  Strawberry  Hill,  fo  called  by  the 
Englifti  when  they  firft  came  there,  in  confequence 
of  the  exuberant  growth  of  thofe  berries.  On  this 
hill  ftands  their  elegant  new  meetinghoufe,  on  the 
northweft  fide  of  the  common  which  is  level,  fac 
ing  to  the  foutheaft,  erefted  in  1784.  At  the 
northeaft  angle  of  the  fquare  ftands  the  academy 
buildings;  the  other  fides  of  the  fquare  are  lined 
with  large  handfome  dwelling  houfcs.  This  hill 
is  high  and  rather  fteep,  but  not  large  and  exten- 
five.  A  fecond  hill  is  called  Indian  Hill,  or  Bald 
Hill,  on  account  of  its  being  cleared  and  planted 
with  corn  by  the  Indians,  a  long  time  before  the 
white  people  went  up  fo  far  to  live.  A  third  is 
called  Moofe  Hill,  becaufe  of  the  great  number  of 
thofe  quadrupeds  which  were  wont  to  harbour  there. 
Another  is  called  Gary's  Hill,  from  one  of  that 
name  who  went  thither  and  digged  a  cave  in  the 
fide  of  this  hill,  and  lived  there  as  an  hermit 
many  years,  while  that  part  of  the  country  was  in 
its  wildernefs  ftate.  A  fifth  is  known  by  the 
ftame  of  Grafs  Hill. 

Although  there  is  no  river  running  through  the 
town,  yet  it  is  well  watered  by  fprings  and  rivulets, 

and 


LEICESTER.  io? 

and  by  feveral  large  brooks  upon  which  there 
are  three  corn  and  five  faw  mills  ;  here  alfo  are 
clothiers'  works,  where  that  bufinefs  is  carried  on 
in  all  its  branches.  Two  of  the  brooks  above  re 
ferred  to,  run  from  north  to  fouth,  and  are  empti 
ed,  one  into  Providence  river,  the  other  into  the 
Sound  or  fea,  at  Newlondon,  in  Connecticut. 
The  firft  of  thefe  is  called  Kettle  Brook,  and  has 
its  fource  in  that  part  of  Paxton  which  was  former 
ly  Leicefter  ;  is  a  very  confiderable  ftream,  and 
running  through  the  eafterly  part  of  the  town, 
pafTes  into  Ward,  and  there  falls  into  Blackftone 
River.  The  other  rifes  from  a  large  meadow  iri 
the  wefterly  part  of  the  town,  of  upwards  of  an 
hundred  acres,  part  of  which  is  in  Spencer  ;  this 
ftream  connects  itfelf  with  the  outlet  of  a  pond 
which  is  fituated  a  little  eafterly  of  the  centre  of 
the  town  of  about  forty  or  fifty  acres  :  Thefe  two 
are  the  fources  of  French  River,  which  runs  through 
Oxford,  and  falls  into  the  fea  at  Newlondon. 

There  is  another  pond  in  the  northwefterly 
part  of  the  town,  containing  about  one  hundred 
acres,  whence  iffues  a  ftream  which  runs  wefterly, 
and  forms  a  branch  of  the  River  Chicabee,  and 
falls  into  Connecticut  River  at  Springfield.  On 
this  ftream  or  outlet  from  the  pond  there  is  a  grift 
mill,  and  by 'a  drain  and  dam  the  pond  may  be 
mi  fed  or  lowered  ten  feet,  which1  is  of  lingular 
advantage  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity,  on 
account  of  grinding  in  the  fummer  feafon. 

In  the  eafterly  part  of  the  town  there  is  a  place 
where  the  water,  running  from,  the  northerly  fide 
H  2  of 


io8  LEICESTER. 

of  the  poft  road,  goes  to  Providence,  while  that  on 
the  fouth  fide  goes  to  Newlondon,  In  the  wefter- 
ly  part  of  the  town  there  is  alto  a  place  where  the 
>vrater,  from  the  north  fide  of  the  road,  runs  to 
Connecticut  River  ;  and  that  on  the  fouth  fide 
goeS  to  Newlondou. 

There  is  in  this  town  a  great  variety  of  timber 
and  wood,  being  a  good  proportion  of  almoft  eve 
ry  kind  which  is  known  to  grow  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  except  pitch  and  yellow  pine. 

The  principal  roads  of  travel,  are,  firft.  the  poft 
road  from  Boflon  to  Springfield,  through  the  mid 
dle  of  the  town  :  Secondly,  about  one  hundred 
rods  weft  from  the  meetinghoufe  is  the  county 
road  to  Sturbridge,  which  turns  to  the  left  hand  : 
Thirdly,  through  the  north  part  of  the  town  is  a 
county  road  from  Worcefter  to  Newbsaintree  and 
Hardwick  :  Fourthly,  from  Rutland,  and  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  there  is  a  large  road 
through  the  town,  leading  through  Charlton,  Dud 
ley,  Pomfret,  £c.  to  Norwich. 

The  inhabitants  of  Leicefter  moftly  live  by  the 
cultivation  of  the  foil  ;  and  here  are  many  very 
fine  farms,  and  the  building*  are  in  general  good,- 
and  indicate  a  very  confiderable  degree  of  wealth. 
There  are  feveral  perfons  here  who  deal  in  foreign 
and  doraeflick  articles  of  trade  ;  and  they  have 
befides  the  ufual  mechnnkks  and  tradefmen,  a  fa 
mous  gunfmith,  Mr.  Thomas  Karlc.  who  is  fuppol- 
cd  to  equal  any  workman  in  the  United  State*,  in 
that  branch  of  bufinefs. 

Here 


RUTLAND.  109 

Here  alfo  there  are  eftablifhed  manufactories  of 
cotton  and  wool  cards,  and  the  work  is  carried  on 
in  all  its  branches'  to  the  greateft  perfe&ion.  In 
this  bufinefs  are  conftantly  employed  fifteen 
or  twenty  men,  exclufive  of  a  great  number  of 
women  and  children  :  And  they  vend,  annually, 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  thoufand  pair. 

Leicefter  is  a  growing  flourifhing  town  ;  and  is 
fituated  upon  the  poll  road  from  Bofton  to  Hart 
ford,  Newyork  and  Philadelphia  :  It  is  fix  miles 
from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter,  a  little  to 
the  fouthweft  ;  and  from  Bofton,  it  is  fifty  three 
miles,  feveral  degrees  to  the  fouth  of  weft. 


RUTLAND. 

W  E  are  happy  in  being  able  to  fay, 
that  the  records  refpefting  Rutland,  have  been  kept 
very  correct  and  perfect,  and  in  fine  order  from 
the  firft. 

From  them  we  find,  that  on  the  2 ad  of  D(»cem- 
foej  i6&6,  Jofeph  Trailc,  alias  Puagaftion,  of 
Pennicook;  Job,  alias  Pornpamarnay,  of  Natick;  Si- 
monPiticom,  alias  Wananapan,  of  Wamafiick;  Saffa- 
wannow,  of  Natick,  and  James  Wifer,  alias  Qual- 
ipunit,  of  Natick,  (Indians  who  claimed  to  be 
lords  of  the  foil)  gave  and  executed  a  deed  to 
Henry  Willard,  fofeph  Rowlandfon,  Jofeph  Fof- 
ter,  Benjamin  Willard,  and  Cyprian  Stevens,  for 
33!.  of  the  then  currency,  of  a  certain  tract 
H  3  of 


lio  RUTLAND. 

of  land  containing  twelve  miles  fquare,  according 
to  the  buts  and  bounds  following,  viz.  "  The  name 
in  general  being  Naquag,  the  fouth  corner  butting 
upon  Mufcopauge  Pond,  and  running  north  to 
Quanitick  and  to  Wanchatopick,  and  fo  running 
upon  great  Watchufett,  which  is  the  north  corner  ; 
fo  running  northwefl  to  Wallamanumpfcooke, 
and  fo  to  Quaquanimawick,  a  little  pond,  and  fo 
to  Afnaconcomick  Pond  which  is  the  northwefl 
corner;  and  fo  running  fouth  andfo  to  Musfhauge 
a  great  fwamp,  and  fo  to  Saflakataflick,  which  is 
the  fouth  corner ;  and  fo  running  eaft  to  Pafcatick- 
quage,  and  fo  to  Ahumpatunfhauge,  a  little  pond, 
and  fo  to  Sumpauge  Pond,  and  fo  to  Mufcopauge, 
which  is  the  eaft  corner."  This  Indian  deed,  fign- 
ed  and  acknowledged  by  the  above  named  Indians, 
was  received  April  14th,  1714,  and  entered  with 
the  records  of  deeds,  for  the  county  of  Middlefex, 
Jibro  16,  page  511,  by  Samuel  Ph'ips,  regifter. 
Of  this  tracl;  of  land  thus  purchafed  of  the  Indians 
we  hear  nothing  for  upwards  of  26  years.  But 
upon  the  petition  of  the  fons  and  grandfons  of 
Major  Simon  Willard,*  of  Lancafter,  deceafed, 
and  others,  for  approbation  and  confirmation  of 
their  title  to  the  above  tracl:  of  land,  the  Gene 
ral  Court,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1713,  pafled 
this  order,  "  That  the  lands  in  the  Indian  deed, 
and  according  to  their  buts  and  bounds,  be  con 
firmed  to  the  children  of  the  faid  Simon  Willard, 
deceafed,  or  to  their  legal  reprefentatives,  and  to 
the  other  petitioners,  or  their  legal  reprefentatives, 

and 

*  This  was  the  famons  Major  Willard  who  went  to  relieve 
vben  bcfct  by  the  Indians, 


R     U     T     L     A     N     D.  in 

affociates,  provided  that  within  feven  years 
time  there  be  6b  families  fettled  thereon  and  fuffi- 
cient  lands  referved  for  the  ufe  of  a  gofpel  minif- 
try  and  fchools,  except  what  part  thereof  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Sewall,  Efq;  hath  already  purchafed,  and 
that  this  grant  ftiall  not  encroach  upon  any  for 
mer  grant  or  grants,  nor  exceed  the  quantity  of 
twelve  miles  fquare.  The  town  to  be  called  Rut 
land,  and  to  lye  to  the  county  of  Middlefex." 
But  this  order,  refolve  or  aft  of  court  was  not 
confidered  as  an  aft  of  incorporation,  as  will  pref- 
ently  appear.  This  traft  of  land  contained  93160 
acres  including  1000  acres  for  the  Hon.  Mr.  Sew- 
all  ;  and  was  furveyed  by  William  Ward,  in  Oc 
tober  1715.  The  names  of  the  original  proprie 
tors  of  Rutland  as  named  in  the  affociate  deed, 
and  their  mares,  are  Jofeph  Fofter  had  two  mares, 
the  reft  had  one  mare  each.  Cyprian  Stevens's 
wife,  Mary  Willard's  heirs,  Jofeph  Rowlandfon's 
heirs,  Simon  Willard,  John  Willard,  Benjamin. 
Willard,  Jofeph  Willard,  Jofiah  Willard's  heirs, 
Rev.  Samuel  Willard's  heirs,  Henry  Willard's 
heirs,  Daniel  Willard's  heirs,  Jonathan  Willard's 
heirs,  Thomas  Brintnal,  Nathaniel  Howard's  heirs, 
Robert  Blood's  heirs,  Jofhua  Edmund's  heirs;  and 
Col.  William  Taylor,  Penn  Townfend,  Paul  Dud 
ley,  Adington  Davenport,  Col.  Adam  Winthrop, 
Capt.  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  Major  Thomas  Fitch, 
Thomas  How,  John  Chandler,  Col.  William  Dud 
ley,  Efqrs.  Mr.  John  White,  John  Farnfworth, 
Col.  Buckley's  heirs,  Mofes  Pajrker,  and  Jacob  Ste 
vens.  In  all  33  mares. 

H  4  The 


R    U    T    L    A    N     £>. 

The  proprietors,  at  a  meeting  at  Bofton,  Decem 
ber  14th,  1715,  voted  that  the  contents  of  fix 
miles  fquare  be  furveyed,  and  fet  off  for  the  fettle- 
meHt  of  62  families  in  order  to  the  performance  of 
the  condition  of  the  granU  The  fix  miles  fquare, 
granted  to  men  who  would  go  on  and  fettle,  was 
that  part  which  is  now  called  Rutland.  The  fet- 
tlers  on  the  nth  of  Auguft  1720,  entered  into  a 
written  agreement  with  the  proprietors,  and  bound 
themfelves  by  certain  articles,  figned  and  witneff- 
ed.  And  on  the  26th  of  June  1721,  this  fix  miles 
fquare  was  confirmed  to  the  fettlers  by  the  propri 
etors,  as  a  fure  eftatc  of  inheritance  to  them,  their 
heirs  and  afligns  forever,  and  recorded.  On 
the  i2th  of  July  1721,  the  inhabitants  of  Rutland 
were  affernbled,  by  order  of  the  committee  of  the 
proprietors,  to  choofe  a  minifler,  when  the  Rev.  Jo- 
feph  Willard  was  chofen,  by  a  great  majority  of  the 
voters.  At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabi 
tants  of  this  fix  miles  fquare,  or  Rutland,  October 
gth,  1 7  2 1 ,  Samuel  Wright  moderator,  ' '  Voted,  that 
the  town  will  prefer  a  petition  to  the  General 
Court,  to  give  their  fandlion,  and  eftablifti  them  as 
a  town,  to  have  and  enjoy  all  the  privileges 
other  towns  enjoy," 

A  petition  was  accordingly  prefejited  to  the 
General  Court,  and  they  fometime  in  their  feflion, 
which  was  begun  at  Bofton  upon  Wednefday  the 
3Oth  of  May  1722,  paffed  an  aft  of  incorporation, 
entitled, 

"  An  aft  for  further  eftabliQiing  the  town  of 
Rutland;  and  empowering  them  to  choofe  all  prop. 

er 


RUTLAND.  113 

er  officers,  and  for  the  empowering  them  tp  raife 
and  collecl;  money  for  the  defraying  of  the  neceflTary 
charges  of  the  fa  id  town.  Forafmuch  as  it  appears 
that  the  proprietors  of  the  townfhip  of  Rutland, 
have  performed  the  conditions  of  the  grant  made 
thereof  by  the  Great  and  General  Affembly  of 
this  Province  in  1713,  Be  it  enafted  by  his  Ex 
cellency  the  Governor,  the  Council,  and  Houfe  of 
Reprefentatives  in  General  Court  alfembled,  and 
by  the  authority  of  the  fame,  That  the  inhabitants 
and  freeholders  of  the  faid  town  of  Rutland  be  in- 
vefted  with,  and  forever  hereafter  enjoy  all  the 
powers,  privileges  and  immunities,  which  other 
towns  within  this  Province,  by  law,  have  and  ufu- 
ally  enjoy  ;  and  that  they  be,  and  hereby  are  ena 
bled,  to  levy,  affefs  and  collecl;  three  pence  pel- 
acre,  per  annum,  for  the  fpace  of  two  years  and  a 
half  from  the  firfl  day  of  July  laft  paft  (the  time 
that  the  minifter  began  to  officiate  as  a  minifter 
there)  on  all  the  lands  both  improved  and  unim 
proved,  whether  divided  or  undivided,  contained 
within  the  lines  of  the  contents  of  fix  miles  fquare, 
as  is  already  laid  out,  and  within  which  the  pref- 
ent  inhabitants  fettled  ;  and  that  the  faid  land  be 
fubje&ed  and  made  liable  to  the  payment  of  the 
fame,  to  defray  the  charge  of  building  the  meeting- 
houfe,  and  paying  the  minifter's  fettlement  and 
falary,  excepting  only  the  prefent  minifter's  lot, 
and  miniftry  lot,  with  their  divifions,  alfo  the  fchoo! 
lot  ;  and  alfo  one  thoufand  acres  of  land  appertain^ 
ing  to  Samuel  Sewall,  Efq;  (the  committee  of  Rut 
land  having  agreed,  for  certain  confiderations  with 

the 


114  RUTLAND. 

the  faid  Samuel  Sevvall,  Efq;)  and  five  hundred  acres 
of  land  appertaining  to  the  Artillery  Company  o/ 
this  Province,  and  eighty  acres  of  land  on  and 
near  Buck  Brook,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  a- 
cres  of  land  about  Mill  Brook  (being  part  of  Ben 
jamin  Willard's  nine  hundred  acres  laid  out  there  to 
promote  a  mill)  which  faid  lands  fhallbe  free  from 
faid  tax  or  aflfefTment,  any  law,  ufage  or  cuftom  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

"  Palled   in  the  houfe  of  reprefentatives,  and  in 
council,  and  confented  to  by  the  Governor. 
<c  A  true  copy  examined, 

per  Jofiah  Willard,  Secretary." 

From  the  foregoing  ftatement,  it  appears  that  the 
whole  grant  of  12  miles  fquare  was  named  Rut 
land,  in  1713  ;  but  that  only  the  fix  miles  fquare 
granted  by  the  proprietors  to  the  fcttlers,  was  call 
ed  Rutland,  and  incorporated  as  a  town  ;  and  that 
this  was  not  done  until  the  feffion  of  the  General 
Court  which  was  begun  May  30,  1722.  And  in 
confequence  of  the  above  recited  aft,  an  order  of 
the  General  Court  palled  July  6th,  1722,  author 
izing  and  empowering  Capt.  Samuel  Wright  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabi 
tants  of  the  town  of  Rutland,  on  the  lafl  Monday 
of  July  current,  then  to  choofe  town  officers  to 
Icrve  until  the  general  meeting  in  March  next. 
The  town  was  notified  and  met  accordingly  ;  and 
this  was  the  firft  legal  town  meeting  ever  held  in 
Rutland. 

After  the  fettlers  had  performed  their  conditions, 
and  the  fix  miles  fquare  was  incorporated,  we  find 
the  proprietors  of  the  townfhip  of  Rutland,  in  all 

future 


RUTLAND.  115 

Future  meetings,  had  nothing  to  do  with  faid  fix 
miles  fquare,  which  is  now  the  town  of  Rutland  ; 
but  concerned  themfelves  only  with  the  other  parts 
of  their  original  grant,  we  {hall  therefore  leave 
them,  and  confine  ourfelves  to  the  account  of  Rut 
land. 

We  have  faid,  the  fettlers  of  the  fix  miles  fquare, 
on  the  i2th  of  July  1721,  invited  the  Rev.  Jofeph 
Willard  to  fettle  with  them  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
iftry,  which  invitation  he  accepted.  This  Mr. 
Willard  had  been  ordained  a  minifter  of  Sund-.r- 
land  in  the  county  of  Hampfhire,  but  continued  a 
very  little  time  with  them  before  he  was  difmiffed. 
After  he  had  accepted  the  invitation  to  fettle  with 
the  people  of  Rutland,  he  met  with  many  and  great 
difcouragements,  and  particularly  by  reafon  of  the 
fears  and  dangers  arifing  from  the  Indians  ;  fo  that 
an  appointment  of  his  inftallation  was  deferred. 
However,  at  length  a  day  was  fixed  upon  for  his 
folemn  feparation  to  the  work  of  the  miniftry  in 
that  place,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1723  ;  but  he 
lived  not  to  fee  the  day,  being  cut  off  by  the  ene 
my,  as  mall  be  now  related.  As  Deacon  Jofeph 
Stevens  and  four  of  his  fons  were  making  hay  in  a 
meadow,  at  Rutland,  a  little  north  of  the  place 
where  the  meetinghoufc  now  Hands,  Auguft  14th, 
1723,  they  were  furprifed  by  five  Indians.  The 
father  efcaped  in  the  buihes ;  two  of  his  fons  were 
then  and  there  flain ;  the  other  two,  (Phinehas  the 
eldeft,  and  Ifaac  the  youngeft)  were  made  prifon- 
ers.  Two  of  the  five  Indians  waylaid  a  Mr.  Davis 
?md  fon,  who  that  afternoon  were  making  hay  in 


ft    U    t    L    A    M    D. 

a  meadow  not  far  off,  but  weary  of  waiting  they 
were  returning  to  the  others,  and  met  Mr.  Willard 
in  their  way,  who  was  armed  :  One  of  the  Indians* 
guns  miffed  fire,  the  others  did  no  execution.  Mr. 
Willard  returned  the  fire,  and  wounded  one  of 
them,  it  is  faid  mortally,  the  other  clofed  in  with 
Mr.  Willard  ;  but  he  would  have  been  more  than 
a  match  for  him,  had  not  the  other  three  come  to 
his  affiflance  :  And  it  was  fome  confiderable  time 
before  they  killed  Mr.  Willard.  This  account 
Phinehas  Stevens  gave  upon  his  return  from  cap 
tivity,  who  was  a  fpe&ator  of  fome  part  of  the 
tragedy.  The  Indians  having  killed  and  fcalped 
Mr.  Willard,  and  taken  fome  of  his  clothes,  went 
off  to  Canada  with  the  two  captives  above  named. 
They  were  redeemed  in  about  a  year.  Phinehas 
Stevens  was  a  famous  warrior,  a  captain,  and  a 
principal  man  in  building  up  and  defending  the 
then  young,  plantation  No.  4,  now  Charleflown, 
in  Newhampfhirc  flate.  Ifaac  Stevens  lived  at 
Rutland.  They  have  both  been  dead  many  years. 
On  the  3d  of  Augufl  1724,  the  Indians  came 
again  upon  Rutland,  killed  three  perfons,  wound 
ed  one,  and  made  another  prifoncr.  This  is  as  I 
find  it  related  in  Governor  Hutchinfon's  hiftory. 
Others  fpeak  of  but  two  killed  :  But  the  names 
of  the  killed,  wounded,  or  prifoner,  cannot  now  be 
afcertained.  This  was  the  laft  mifchief  done  at 
Rutland  by  the  Indians,  fo  far  as  we  can  learn. 

The  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory  of  Rutland  is  brief 

and  as  here  follows.     The  church  of  Chrift  in  the 

;:  was  gathered   November   ift,  1727,   and  on 

the 


RUTLAND.  117 

tbe  fame  day  the  Rev.  Thomas  Frink  was  ordain 
ed  their  firft  Paftor.  Mr.  Frink  continued  but  a 
little  time  as  their  minifter,  being  difmiffed  from 
his  office  September  8th,  1740.  (Mr.  Frink  was 
inftalled  Paftor  of  the  third  church  in  Plymouth, 
November  yth,  1743,  where  he  continued  minifter 
but  a  fhort  fpace  ;  being  difmiffed  from  thence,  he 
was  inftalled  at  Barre  on  the  lalt  Wednefday  in 
October  1753  ;  from  whence  alfohewas  dilmiifed 
July  17th,  1766.)  Tbe  Rev.  Jofeph  Buckminfter 
fucceeded  Mr.  P>ink,  as  a  minifter  of  the  gofpel  of 
Chrift,  at  Rutland,  whereunto  he  was  ordained 
September  15th,  1742.  Mr.  Buckminfter^continu- 
ed  the  able  faithful  and  worthy  minifter  of  Rut 
land  until  November  gd,  1792,  when  he  died  ia 
the  73d  year  of  his  age,  and  the  516;  of  his  minif- 
try.  He  was  fucceeded  in  about  eight  months,  by 
the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Goodrich,  who  was  feparated 
to  the  pa  floral  office  in  Rutland,  on  the  ipth  of 
June  1793. 

In  this  town  upwards  of  forty  perfons  have  late 
ly  united,  and  eftablifhed  a  focjal  Library,  of  the 
value  of  nearly  $oL  and  containing  about  70  vol 
umes  at  prefent. 

Some  Geographical  Defcription  of  Rutland  fhall 
noxv  be  attempted. 

The  town  is  iituated  on  the  height  of  land  be. 
twecn  the  fea  and  Connecticut  River  :  It  is  hilly 
and  very  uneven  :  The  hill  on  which  the  meeting- 
houfe  ftands  is  high  :  And  the  meetinghoufe  may 
be  feen  in  many  of  the  adjacent  towns,  and  even 
at  a  great  di fiance  to  the  weft  and  noijhweft  ;  but 

as 


n8  RUTLAND. 

as  the  town  abounds  with  hills  it  affords  no  extcn- 
five  and  commanding  profpeft  of  itfelf.  Eaft  of 
the  meelinghoufe  is  a  hill  called  Mufchapauge 
hill  or  Rice's  hill,  containing  two  or  three  hundred 
acres,  this  is  very  good  land,  and  has  fome  fine  farms 
upon  it.  Part  of  Turkey  Hill,  fo  called,  on  the 
fouth  falls  within  Rutland,  the  reft  is  in  Paxton. 
This  is  high,  but  moft  excellent  land. 

Other  hills  there  are  many,  but  none  particular 
ly  noticeable.  The  land  in  general  is  very  good, 
and  the  foil  is  rich  and  flrong  :  It  is  not  extraordi 
nary  for  raifing  of  grain,  though  a  fufficiency  is 
produced  for  the  inhabitants  ;  it  is  very  well 
adapted  to  grafs  and  grazing,  and  moft  excellent 
for  orcharding  :  Here  are  large  and  fine  orchards, 
and  much  cyder  is  made  in  the  town. 

Rutland,  being  the  height  of  land,  has  no  large 
rivers  running  through  it.  Pifs  River,  fo  called, 
which  originates  on  the  weft  fide  of  Watchufett 
Hill,  runs  through  Hubbardfton,  and  paifes  acrofs 
the  northweft  angle  of  this  town,  and  fo  falls  into 
Ware  river.  On  this  river  are  one  corn  mill,  two 
f?w  mills,  one  fulling  mill,  and  one  trip  hammer, 
within  the  limits  of  Rutland  ;  and  the  meadows 
on  this  river  are  confiderable.  There  is  a  large 
ftream,  called  Long  Meadow  Brook,  running 
through  the  town,  in  the  wefterly  part  thereof,  on 
which  are  large  meadows,  and  two  corn  mills  and 
two  faw  mills  within  the  bounds  of  this  town. 
About  half  a  mile  call  of  the  mccimghoufe  is  a 
famous  fpring,  the  waters  whereof  foon  divide  ; 
part  runs  tg  Meiitnack,  and  part  to  Connecticut 

River ; 


RUTLAND.  119 

River  :  And  it  is  to  be  obferved  that  all  the  waters 
of  Rufland  run  to  thefe  two  great  rivers.  There 
are  divers  ponds  in  the  town  ;  Mufcopauge  Pond, 
mentioned  in  the  Indian  deed ;  this  is  large,  cover 
ing  about  100  acres.  In  this  pond  two  perfons 
have  been  drowned.  Evans's  Pond,  fo  called,  of 
about  60  or  70  acres,  in  the  fouthwefterly  part  of 
the  town.  Alfo,  Gregory's  or  Long  Pond,  which 
is  long  and  narrow,  in  the  fouthwefterly  quarter. 
Thefe  are  all  well  ftored  with  filh.  Browning's 
Pond  is  large,  this  is  fituated  in  the  foutherly 
part,  and  is  partly  in  Rutland,  partly  in  Spencer  ; 
but  the  largefl  part  is  in  Oakham.  The  growth  of 
wood  in  Rutland  is,  oak  of  all  forts,  chefnut,  wal 
nut,  pine  of  all  forts,  afh,  maple,  birch,  beach, 
poplar,  elm,  faffafras,  hemlock,  hackmatack,  &c. 
&c.  In  the  wefterly  and  northwefteriy  part  of  the 
town  is  an  extenfive  plain,  a  great  part  of  which  is 
flill  covered  with  pitch  pine.  This  is  rather  light 
land.  The  people  of  Rutland  are  principally  , 

farmers,  except  a  few  traders  in  European,  Eafl 
and  Weftindia  goods,  the  ufual  rriechanicks,  and 
thofe  employed  in  the  card  making  bufinefs,  which 
is  newly  fet  up  here  :  And  they  are  a  peaceable, 
happy,  flourifhing  people.  In  this  town,  pot  and 
pearl  afh  making  is  carried  on  very  largely.  When 
the  cenfus  was  taken  about  two  years  ago  there 
were  1072  fouls  in  the  town. 

Rutland  is  bounded,  on  the  north  by  Hubbardf- 
ton  ;  on  the  northeaft,  by  Princeton  ;  on  the  eaft, 
by  Holden  ;  on  the  fouth,   by   Paxton  ;  on    the 
weft,  by  Oakham  ;  and  on  the  northweft,  by  Bar- 
re, 


120         WES-TBOR'OUGH. 

re.  This  town  is  (ituated  about  weft  from  Bofton, 
at  the  diftance  of  56  miles  ;  and  from  the  court- 
houfe  in  Worccfter,  it  is  noithweft,  at  the  diftancc 
of  fourteen  miles. 


WEST  BOROUGH. 


HIS    town  was   taken  from   Marl- 
borough,  and  lying  the  whole  length  of  that  town 
on  the  weft  fide,  thence  was  called    Weftborough 
when  incorporated  by  a 61  of  the  General  Court  on 
the   i8th  of  November   1717.     This  before  ufed 
to  be  called  Chauncey  Village  at  the   weft  end  of 
Marlborough.     Here  a   Church  was  gathered  on 
the  28th  of  October  1724,  and  on   the  fame  day 
the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Parkman,  their  firft  Paftor,  was 
ordained.     Having  obtained  help  of  God,  he  con 
tinued  to  minifter  to  the  people  in  holy  things  un 
til  within  about  fix  weeks  of  his  death,  which  was 
on  the  ^th  of  December  1782.  in  the  8oth  year  of 
his  age,   and  59th  of  his  miniftry.     The  town  re 
mained  deftitute  of  a  fettled  minifler  until  Janua 
ry  14th,  1789,  when  the  Rev.  John  Robinfon  was 
confecrated  their   fccond  paftorT!    This  town  in- 
creafed  fo  fafl  that  on  Oftobcr  20th,   1744,   the 
north  part  was   made  a  fepatfate  parifh  ;  the  par 
ticulars  whereof  will  be  related  when   we  come  lo 
give  an  account  of  the  town  of  Nonhborough. 

This  wellerly  part  of  Marlborough,  being  theij 
a  frontier,  having  no  town  betweefh  it  and  Brook- 
field, 


XVEStBOROUGH.        121 

field  on  the  weft,  about  40  miles  diftant,  did  not 
fettle  fo  faft  :  Nevertheless,  towards  the  elofe  of 
the  feventeenth  century  feveral  families  had  here 
feated  themf elves  ;  and  among  others,  Meffrs, 
Thomas  and  Edmund  Rice  had  families,  and  were 
fixed  down  but  a  little  weft  of  where  the  prefent 
meetinghoufe  in  Weftborough  ftands.  On  Auguft 
8th,  1704,  as  feveral  perfons  were  bufy  in  fpread- 
ing  flax,  on  a  plain  about  eighty  rods  from  the  houfe 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Rice  (the  firft  fettler  in  Weftbor- 
oagh,  and  feveral  years  reprefentative  of  the  towri 
of  Marlborough,  in  the  General  Court)  and  a  num 
ber  of  boys  with  them,  feven,  fome  fay  ten,  Indians 
fuddenly  rufhed  down  a  woody  hill  near  by,  and, 
knocking  the  leaft  of  the  boys  on  the  head  (Nahor, 
about  five  years  old,  fon  of  Mr.  Edmuud  Rice, 
and  the  firft  Englifh  perfon  ever  buried  in  Weft- 
borough)  they  feized  two,  Afher  and  Adonij ah, 
fons  of  Mr.  Thomas  Rice,  the  oldeft  about  ten, 
and  the  other  about  eight  years  of  age,  and  two 
others,  Silas  and  Timothy,  fons  of  Mr.  Edmund 
Rice  abovenamed,  of  about  nine  and  feven  years 
of  age,  and  carried  them  away  to  Canada.  The 
perfons  who  were  fpreading  flax,  efcaped  fafely  to 
the  houfe.  Afher,  in  about  four  years,  returned, 
being  redeemed  by  his  father.  This  was  effected 
by  the  kind  mediation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lydius, 
then  minifter  of  Albany.  And  here,  by  the  way, 
it  fhould  be  noted,  that  when  the  old  Indian  Sa 
chem  Ountaflbgo,  the  chief  of  the  Cagnawagas,  at 
the  conference  with  Governor  Belcher  at  Deerfield, 
made  a  vifit  to  Bofton,  he  flopped  awhile  in  Weft- 
I  bQrough  j 


t22         W  E  S  T  B  O  R  O  U  G  H. 

borough.;  the  beforementioned  Afher  Rice 
and  knew  him  to  be  one  of  the  Indians  who  mfhed 
down  the  hill,  as  above  related,  when  he  was  taken 
by  them.  This  Mr.  Afher  Rice  married,  had  a 
family,  and  was  living  but  a  few  years  pad  in 
Spencer.  His  brother  Adqnijah,  grew  up  in 
Canada,  and  married  there,  firll  a  French,  after 
wards  a  Dutch  woman,  and  followed  the  bufinefs 
of  hufbandry  on  fome  land  a  little  way  off  from 
Montreal,  on  the  north  fide  of  the  great  river  St. 
Lawrence,  and  had  a  good  farm  there,  as  we  have 
been  certified.  The  Indian  name  whereby  he  was 
calledxwas  AJJaunaugooLon. 

As  to  the  other  two,  .Silas  and  Timothy,  they 
mixed -with  the  Indians  ;  loft  their  mother  tongue, 
had  Indian  wives,  and  children  by  ihem ;  and  liv 
ed  at  Cqgnawaga.  The  name  by  which  Silas  was 
diflinguimed  among  the  Indians  was  Tookanowras. 

Timothy,  the  youngeft,  however,  was  much  the 
moll  noticeable  perfon.  The  accounts  received 
from  thence,  have  uniformly  represented  him  as 
the  third  of  ihc  fix  chiefs  of  the  Cagrwwagas.  This 
advancement  was  in  confequencc  of  the  death  of 
his  fofter  father,  or  mafter,  who  had  adopted  him 
for  a  fon,  inftead  of  a  fon  which  he,  the  former 
chief,  had  loft.  <!  However,)  faid  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Parkman,  who  had  the  beft  means  of  information) 
Timothy  had  much  recommended  himfelf  to  ^.he 
Indians,  by  his  own  fupcrior  talents,  his  penetra 
tion,  courage,  flrength,  and  warlike  fpirit,  .for 
which  he  was  much  celebrated,  as  was  evident  to 
me  from  convcrfation  with  the  late  Sachem  Hen- 

drick, 


W  E  S  T  B  O  R  O.U  G  H.         123 

drick,  and  Mr.  Kellogg,  when  they  were  in  the 
MafTachufetts  ;  and  his  name .,  among  them  the 
fame  as  we  had  ever  heard,  viz.  Oughtforongoughton." 

The  venerable  Mr.  Parkman,  in  a  manufcript 
account  of  thefe  perfons  found  among  his  papers 
fince  his  death,  adds,  with  refpecl:  to  this  Timothy, 
in  thefe  words :  '  "  He  himfelf,  in  procefs  of  time, 
came  to -fee  us.  By  the  interpofition  of  Col.  Lyd- 
ius,  and  the  captive  Tarbell,  who  was  carried  a- 
way  from  Groton,  a  ;  letter  was  fent  me,  bearing 
date  July  23d,  1740,  certifying  that  if  one  of  their 
brethren  here  would  go  up  to  Albany,  and  be 
there  at  a  time  fpecified,  they  would  meet  him 
there  ;  and  that  one  of  them,  at  leaft,  would  come 
hither  to  vifit  their  friends  in  Newengland.  This 
propofal  was  readily  complied  with,  and  it  fuc- 
ceeded. 

The  chief  abovefaid  came,  and  the  fa  id  Mr. 
Tarbell  with  him  as  interpreter  and  companion. 
They  arrived  here  September  15th.  They  viewed 
the  houfe  where  Mr.  Rice  dwelt,  and  the  place 
from  whence  the  children  were,  captivated  ;  of 
both  which  he  retained  a  clear  remembrance  ;  as 
he  did  likewife  of  feveral  elderly  perfons  who  were 
then  living  ;  though  he  had  forgot  our  language. 
His  Excellency  Governor  Belcher  fent  for  them, 
who,  accordingly,  waited  on  him  at  Boilon.  They 
alfo  viuted  Tarbell's  relations  at  Groton  ;  then 
returned  to  us  in  their  way  back  to  Albany  and 
Canada.  Col.  Lydius,  when  at  Bofton,  not  long 
fince,  *  faid  this  Rice  was  the  Chief  who  made  the 

fpeech 

*  This  account  was  written  in  1769, 

la 


124         WESTBOROUCH. 

fpeech  to  General  Gage,  which  we  had  in  ctar 
public  prints,  in  behalf  of  the  Cagnawagas,  foon 
after  the  reduction  of  Montreal,"  Thus  far  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Parkrhan. 

To  the  above  account  I  would  add,  there  are  at 
this  prefcnt  time,  1793,  a  brother  and  fitter  of  the 
abovenamed  Silas  and  Timothy,  living  in  North- 
borough,  in  a  very  advanced  age,  though  not  born 
when  their  brethren  were  captivated,  who  have 
heard  that  thefe  men  were  living  in  Canada,  in 
the  fummer  of  1790. 

^et  us  proceed  to  fome  Geographical  Defcrip- 
tion  of  Wcftborough.  The  town  is  pretty  large, 
and  very  generally  fettled,  containing,  when  the 
cenfus  was  taken  in  1791,  houfes  118,  and  inhab 
itants  934^1  It  is  about  34  miles  from  Bofton,  a 
little  to  the  fouth  of  weft,  and  13  miles  eaft  from 
Worcefter.  The  middle  of  the  town  is  level,  but 
the  lands  rife,  at  about  a  mile's  diftance  frorn  the 
meetinghoufe  into  higher,  efpecially  to  the  eafl, 
fouth  and  weft.  The  foil  is  in  general  good,  the 
farms  are  large,  and  the  inhabitants  induftrious 
and  wealthy,  as  any  one  muft  naturally  fuppofe 
from  the  appearance  of  their  places  and  buildings. 
The  growth  of  wood  here  is  fimilar  to  that  in  the 
neighbouring  towns  :  The  higher  lands  bear  plen 
ty  of  oak  and  chefnut,  fome  walnut ;  in  the  fwamps 
andlow  lands  grow  afh,  birch  and  maple  :  Hercalfo 
they  have  large  and  excellent  cedar  fwamps,  which 
afford  the  people  much  cedar  for  mingles  and  oth 
er  important  and  ncceffary  ufes  :  There  is,  at  this 
,  but  little  white  pine,  but  confidcrable  pitch 

pine. 


WESTBOROUGH.         125 

pine.  JThere  is  very  little  broken  poor  land  in  the 
town  ;  neither  is  it  very  rocky  ;  but  bears  all 
kinds  of  grain  in  plenty  j  it  is  good  for  orchard 
ing,  grafs  and  pafturing  :  It  is  very  well  watered 
by  fmall  ftreams  and  rivulets,  on  which  they  have 
mills  ;  and  on  thefe  they  have  confiderable  bodies 
of  good  meadow  land.  The  river  Affabet,  run 
ning  through  the  northweil  angle  of  the  town,  has 
upon  its  banks  a  very  large  body  of  very  excellent 
meadow  or  interva^ 

Ponds  there  are  feveral  in  the  town,  as  Greafc 
Chauncy  in  the  northeafterly  part,  into  which  a 
rivulet  enters  at  the  fouth  end  from  fwamps  and 
low  lands  ;  this  is  a  fine  pond,  and  here  is  a  plen 
ty  of  fifh.  A  fmall  ftream  iffues  from  the  north 
end  of  this  pond  and  empties  into  Little  Chauncy, 
which  is  in  Northborough. 

About  a  mile  fouth  of  Great  Chauncy,  there  is  a 
fmall  pond,  near  the  road  from  Weftborough  to 
Bofton,  whence  iffues  a  fmall  dream  to  the  fouth, 
entering  a  large  cedar  fwamp,  and  running  through 
that,  empties  into  a  large  pond  called  Cedar  Swamp 
Pond,  which  is  environed  on  the  eaft,  north  and 
weft,  with  faid  fwamp ;  from  this  pond,  on  the 
fouth,  there  is  an  outlet  which  runs  into  Hopkin- 
ton,  and  aids  in  forming  Sudbury,  or  Concord 
South  River.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  wa 
ters  in  this  town,  though  they  take  different  routs, 
finally  unite  in  Concord,  by  the  confluence  of  the 
north  and  fouth  river  in  that  town.  In  the  north- 
wefterly  part  of  Weftborough  is  fituated  Hobomo- 
cho  Pond,  not  large,  encircled  with  a  meadow3 
I  3  bearing 


126          U    X     B     R     I     D     G     E.; 

bearing  the  fame  name,  and  from  this  there  is  an 
outlet  into  the  River  Affabet,  abovementioned. 

Weftborough  is  bounded  on  the  eafl,  by  South- 
borough  and  Hopkinton  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Upton  ; 
on  the  weft,  by  Grafton  and  Shrewfbury  ;  and  oa 
the  north,  by  Northborotigh. 


U     X      B      R     I     D     G     E. 

1  H  E  town  of  Uxbridge  was  taken 
from  the  ancient  town  of  Mendon,  and  was  incor 
porated  by  an  aft  of  the  Legiflatute,  on  the  syth 
of  June  1727,  and  then  received  its  prefent  name. 
It  was  the  wefterly  part  of  that  town.  It  was  large 
at  firft.  extending  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  north 
to  fouth  ;  but  has  fmce  been  curtailed,  having  the 
north  part  fet  off  in  1772,  and  made  a  diftincl; 
town,  by  the  name  of  Northbridge. 

Uxbridge  flill  remains  a  very  confidcrable  town 
in  extent,  and  for  the  number  of  its  inhabitants. 
When  the  cenfus  was  taken  in  1791,  there  were 
180  dwelling  houfes,  and  1310  inhabitants  in  the 
place. 

The  people  took  early  care  for  the  fupport  of 
the  gofpel,  and  the  iriftitutions  of  Chriftianity  a- 
mong  them  ;  accordingly,  foon  after  the  incorpo 
ration  of  the  town,  viz.  on  the  fixth  of  January 
,  a  church  of  Chrift  was  here  gathered  under 

the 


U     X     B     R     I     D     G     E.'  127 

the  dire&ion  of  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Dorr  of  Mendon  ; 
and  on  February  third,  1731,  the  Rev.  Nathan 
Webb,  was  invefled  with  the  paftoral  office  in  the 
place.  Mr.  Webb  continued  the  faithful  minifter 
of  the  town  upwards  of  41  years  ;  being  removed 
by  death  on  the  14th  of  March  1772.  The  Rev. 
Hezekiah  Chapman  fucceeded  Mr.  Webb  in  the 
work  of  the  miniftry  in  Uxbridge  ;  whereunto  he 
was  folemnly  feparated  January  27th,  1774  ;  and 
from  which  he  was  difmifled  April  5th,  1781. 
The  Rev.  Jofiah  Spalding,  fucceeded  Mr.  Chap 
man  as  minifter  of  Uxbridge,  being  ordained  on 
the  iith  of  September  1783  :  He  continued  with 
this  people  but  about  four  years,  being  difmifled 
from  his  paftoral  relation  to  them,  O£lober  2$d, 
1787.  •  Thefe  two  gentlemen  were  difmiffed  more 
on  account  of  the  peculiarity  of  their  religious  feriti- 
ments,  than  any  thing  befide.  Mr.  Spalding  has 
fince  been  inftalled  at  Worthington  in  the  county 
of  Hampfhire.  On  the  1 7th  of  October  1792,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Judfon  was  ordained  Paftor,  the 
fourth  in  fucceffion,  of  the  congregational  fociety 
in  Uxbridge. 

In  the  town  of  Uxbridge  there  are  a  few  fam 
ilies  of  the  Anabaptift  perfuafion.  And  here 
alfo  is  a  very  confiderable  fociety,  nearly  one 
quarter  of  the  inhabitants  of  :  the  town,  of  the 
fe6l  called  Friends,  who  have  a  meetinghoufe  for 
the  worfhip  of  God  in  their  way,  built  with  brick. 

We  will  noxv  give  fome  Geographical  Defcrip- 
tion  of  the  town  of  Uxbridge, 

I  4  This 


128 

This  town  is  fituated  at  the  fouthern  extremity 
of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  Couth,  by  the 
line  between  this  Commonwealth,  and  the  ftate  of 
Rhodeifland  ;  on  the  weft,  by  Douglafs  ;  on  the 
north,  by  Northbridge  ;  and  on  the  caft,  by  Men- 
don. 

Uxbridge  is  42  miles  from  Bofton,  fomewhat  to 
the  fouthweft,  and  is  18  miles  from  the  courthoufe 
in  Worcefter,  to  the  foutheaft. 

The  land  in  the  town  is  pretty  level,  for  the 
fpace  of  about  one  mile  round  the  meetinghoufc, 
being  a  plain,  and  rather  fandy  and  light  ;  how 
ever,  good  for  railing  of  grain  of  all  forts  ;  then  it 
rifes  to  hills  on  all  fides,  but  not  very  high,  nor 
very  rocky  ;  thefe  are  moifl  and  good  for  orchard 
ing,  and  for  grazing,  and  for  Englifh  grafs  :  There 
is  a  good  proportion  of  interval  and  meadow  lands 
upon  the  rivers,  which  are  in  general  very  good. 
There  are  three  rivers  in  this  town,  all  of  them 
unite  in  the  fouth  part ;  Blackftone,  Mumford,  and 
Weft  River.  Blackftone  River  has  its  fource  in 
Sutton  ;  and  was  particularly  dcfcribed  in  the  ac 
count  of  that  town.  This  river  comes  from  Suttoii 
through  Gfcifton  and  Northbridge,  and  enters  Ux 
bridge  at  the  north  end  of  the  town,  and  running 
through  the  town,  near  the  middle,  pafles  into 
Rhodeifland  State  :  This  is  a  large  and  fine  river. 
Mumford  River  has  its  rife  in  Rocky  Woods,  fo 
called,  in  Douglafs,  being  increafed  by  dreams 
from  Badluck  Pond,  and  from  Manchaug  Pond, 
in  Douglafs,  and  by  fprings  and  rivulets,  and  runs 
an  eafterly  courfe  into  Uxbridge,  then  turns  and 

runs 


U    X    B    R    I     D    G    E.          129 

runs  foutheafterly  within  a  few  rods  of  Uxbridge 
meetinghoufe,  where  there  are  feverai  forts  of  mills 
arid  water  works,  in  excellent  order,  and  where 
much  bufmefs  is  well  performed.  This  river  con 
tinues  its  courfe,  and  joins  Blackftone  River  about 
fone  mile  foutheaft  of  the  meetinghoufe. 

Weft  River  is  not  large,  its  main  fource  is  a 
pond  in  the  northerly  part  of  Upton,  and  running 
through  a  part  of  Northbridge,  it  paffes  through 
the  eafterly  fide  of  Uxbridge,  and  falls  into  Black 
ftone  River  about  two  miles  foutheaft  from  the 
meetinghoufe.  Befides  thefe  rivers,  there  are  divers 
brooks  and  rivulets,  by  which  this  town  is  finely 
watered.  There  are  alfo  three  fmall  ponds  in  the 
town,  covering  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  land  each, 
and  are  called^  Pout  Pond,  Mud  Pond,  and  Shoelog 
Pond.  Pout  Pond  is  in  the  eaft  part  of  the  town, 
about  one  mile  from  the  meetinghoufe.  Mud  Pond 
is  fituated  in  the  foutheaft  part  of  the  town,  not  far 
from  Blackftone  River,  with  which  it  holds  a  com 
munication  when  the  water  is  high.  Shoelog  Pond 
is  fituated  in  the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town,  from 
whence  iffues  a  fmall  ftream,  which  runs  into 
Gloucefter,  in  the  State  of  Rhodeifland.  Not  far 
from  this  pond  an  iron  mine  has  been  difcovered, 
and  wherein  perfons  have  wrought  to  very  confid- 
erable  advantage.  Upon  the  farm  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Willard,  in  Uxbridge,  there  is  a  fine  quarry  of 
ftone,  of  a  greyilh  colour,  eafily  fplit,  and  wrought 
into  any  fliape  for  underpinning,  door  ftoncs, 
&c,  &c. 

The 


130       S  O  U  T  H  B  O  R  O  U  G  H. 

The  growth  of  wood  and  timber  in  this  town  is 
pretty  much  like  that  of  other  towns  in  general  : 
Oak  of  various  forts,  fome  chefnut,  walnut,  poplar 
and  pine. 

The  people  of  Uxbridge  fubfift  chiefly  by  the 
cultivation  of  the  foil  :  They  have,  however,  all 
the  common  forts  of  mechanicks,  and  a  few  dealers 
in  European,  Eaft  and  Weft  India  goods. 

There  is  one  road  of  confiderable  travel,  from 
Connecticut,  direftly  through  this  town  to  Men- 
don,  and  fo  on  to  Bofton. 

This  may  be  confidered  as  a  large,  wealthy, 
flourifhing  place,  and  (lands  forward  in  the  lift  of 
towns,  according  to  the  proportion  which  it  pays 
to  a  State  tax. 


SOUTHBOROUGH. 

1  H  E  town  of  Southborough,  was 
taken  from  the  ancient  town  of  Marlborough.  and 
derived  its  name  from  (he  circumftancc  of  its  lying 
about  fouth  from  that  town.  It  was  incorporated, 
by  aft  of  Court,  July  6th,  1727.  A  few  years 
paft,  a  ftrip  of  land,  belonging  to  Framingham,  of 
about  three  hundred  acres,  and  running  up  between 
Southborough  and  Hopkinton,  was  annexed  to 
Southborough. 

The 


S  O  U  T  H  B  O  R  O  U  G  H. 

The  church  of  Chrifl  in  this  town,  was  embodied 
on  the  24thN  of  October  1730,  and  on  the  fame 
day  the  Rev.  Nathan  Stone  was  ordained  their  firft 
Pallor:  He  was  a  judicious,  prudent,  and  faithful 
minifler  of  Chrift,  and  was  continued  ferving  God 
in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son,  to  the  great  fatisfa6tion  of 
his  people,  until  May  31  ft,  1781,  when  he  depart 
ed  this  life,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age  and  51  ft  of 
his  miniftry.  The  people  were  deftitute  of  a  fettled 
minifter  for  the  long  fpace  of  ten  years,  even  until 
June  ift,  1791,  when  the  Rev.  Samuel  Sumner  was 
lolemnly  feparated  unto  the  paftoral  office  over  the 
church  and  flock  of  God  in  Southborough. 

We  fhall  proceed  to  give  fome  Geographical 
Defcription  of  this  town.  It  is  fituated  on  the 
eaft  fide  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  by  Marl- 
borough  on  the  north,  Framingham  on  the  eaft, 
Hopkinton  on  the  fouth,  and  Weftborough  and 
Northborough  on  the  weft  :  It  is  29  miles  from 
jBofton,  a  little  to  the  fouth  of  weft  ;  and  17  miles 
from  Worcefter  courthoufe,  about  eaft.  It  is  not 
large  in  extent,  but  pretty  well  filled  with  people, 
who  are  generally  good  and  wealthy  farmers.  They 
have  about  120  dwelling  houfes,  150  families,  and 
840  inhabitants.  The  town  is  not  level,  nor  yet 
very  uneven  ;  there  are  no  extenfive  plains,  and  no 
very  high  hills  ;  the  foil  is  ftrong,  good  and  rich, 
and  productive,  amply  repaying  for  its  cultivation. 
It  is  not  very  rocky,  however,  there  is  a  fufficiency 
of  ftone,  perhaps  on  every  farm,  whereby  it  is,  or 
may  be  walled  in.  In-  the  South  part  of  the  town 
there  is  a  hill,  which,  from  the  fteepnefs  of  its  af- 

cent, 


*3*   SOUTHBOROUGH. 

cent,  is  called  Breakneck  Hill,  over  the  fteepeft  part 
runs  a  town  road ;  it  is  rocky  and  rough,  but  cov 
ered  with  a  large  growth  of  young  wood,  and  de- 
fcends  to  the  north.  In  the  northeafl  part  is  fitu- 
ated  what  is  called  Pine  Hill,  which  was  covered 
with  pines  and  timber  until  the  year  1787,  when, 
by  a  hurricane,  the  wood  was  chiefly  deftroyed. 
On  the  weft  fide  of  the  town  there  is  a  fteep  hill 
over  which  the  county  road  lies,  but  not  diftin- 
guifhed  by  any  particular  name. 

The  town  is  well  watered  by  ftrcams  and  rivu 
lets.  Stony  Brook  rifes  in  the  eafterly  part  of 
Weftborough,  runs  through  Southborough  in  a 
courfe  which  in  general  is  eafterly  ;  but  not  with 
out  leveral  great  angles  ;  for  what  is  worthy  of  re 
mark,  the  road  through  the  town  to  Bofton  croffes 
this  ftream  three  times  within  the  fpace  of  four 
miles.  This  ftrcam  enters  Framingham  and  there 
falls  into  Sudbury  River.  On  this  ftream  are  two 
faw  mills,  in  fine  order,  of  profit  to  their  owners, 
and  benefit  to  the  town.  Upon  the  fame  brook 
are  four  corn  mills.  One  in  the  wefterly  part  of 
the  town,  neareft  its  fource,  and  on  the  great  road, 
can  grind  but  about  half  the  year,  as  railing  a  pond 
in  the  fummer  feafon  would  damage  a  large  body 
of  meadow  land.  But  below  this,  at  the^  diftance 
of  two  or  three  miles,  as  the  ftream  runs,  ftands 
another  mill  in  good  repair,  and  where  much  bufi- 
nefs  is  done,  not  only  for  the  benefit  of  this,  but 
the  neighbouring  towns.  About  two  miles  further 
down  this  ftream,  are  two  well  conftru&cd  corn 
mills,  the  property  of  Col,  Thomas  Nixon,  which 

grind 


SOUTHBOROUGH.      133 

grind  all  the  year,  except  in  a  very  dry  feafon,  as 
the  waters  of  Angle  Brook,  and  Broad  Meadow- 
Brook  fall  into  this  flream  above  thefe  mills.  On 
this  Stony  Brook,  clothiers'  works  have  lately  been 
erected  in  the  eaflerly  part  of  the  town  where  much 
bufinefs  is  well  performed. 

A  fecond  flream  is  calkd  Angle  Brook,  from  its 
winding  courfe.  One  branch  of  this  ftream  rifes 
near  the  meelinghoufe  in  Maiiborough,  and  anoth 
er  branch  a  little  further  fouth,  and  foon  uniting 
enters  Southborough.  and  there  joining  with  Broad 
Meadow  Brook,  in  about  the  diftance  of  a  mile, 
falls  into  Stony  Brook,  as  abovementioned.  There 
are  many  other  flreams  lefs  noticeable.  But  we 
mufl  obferve  what  is  called  Sudbury  River,  iffues 
from  Cedar  Swamp  Pond,  in  the  foutheafterly  part 
of  Weflborough,  and  when  it  leaves  that  town,  is 
the  boundary  between  Southborough  and  Hopkin- 
ton,  on  the  fouth.  The  meadows  on  this  river,  in 
Southborough,  are  narrow,  but  produce  large  quan 
tities  of  good  flock  hay,  being  a  mixture  of  meadow, 
and  Englifli  grafs.  Thole  upon  Stony  and  An 
gle  Brooks  are  good,  and  yield  mofl  excellent  bank 
hay.  There  is  but  one  pond  in  this  town,  in  dte 
weflern  part,  fmall,  covering  perhaps  fix  acres  6f 
ground.  To  this  there  is  a  fmall  inlet,  and  an  otit- 
let  to  the  fouth  ;  and  all  the  waters  in  this  ttfwn 
run  foutherly  and  eaflerly,  and  empty  into  Sucflbu- 
ry,  or  Concord  River.  Here  are  no  pot  or  pearl- 
afh  works. 

The  growth  of  wood  is  fufficient  for  the  towrt, 
if  prudently  ufed,  and  confifls  of  white,  red  and 

black 


134  S  PI  R  E  W  S  B  U  R  Y. 

black  oak,  feme  walnut,  and  more  chefnut  :  Tlie 
low  lands  are  all  under  cultivation.  Upon  the 
whole,  this,  though  not  large,  its  contents  being 
but  about  8350  acres,  is  a  good  town  ;  and  the 
people  are  induflrious  and  wealthy,  in  general  ; 
and  hofpitable  and  peaceable. 


SHREWSBURY. 

I  NT  the  year  1717,  November  2d,  a 
grant  was  made  to  certain  perfons,  chiefly  of 
Marlborough,  who  petitioned  therefor,  of  all  the 
lands  lying  between  the  original  grant  of  Lancaf- 
ter  on  the  north  ;  Marlborough,  on  the  eaft;  Sut- 
ton  on  the  fouth  ;  and  Worcefter  on  the  weft. 
Moft  of  the  fi'rfl  fettlers  were  from  Marlborough. 
The  traft  of  land  was  very  long  (about  fifteen 
miles  north  and  fouth)  but  not  very  wide  (from 
three  and  an  half  to  four  and  five  miles.)  The 
whole  was  called,  by  the  proprietors,  Shrewfbury 
from  the  beginning. 

In  about  ten  years  from  the  date  of  the  grant,  it 
was  fo  (locked  with  inhabitants,  as  that  the  Gene 
ral  Court  incorporated  it  as  a  town,  by  an  aft 
which  bears  date  December  ipth,  1727,  and  gave 
it  the  name  whereby  it  had  ail  along  been  diftin- 
guifhed. 

The 


SHREWSBURY.  135 

The  townfo  flouriflied  and  increased,  as  that  in 
a  little  more  than  twenty  years  a  fecond  parifh,  in. 
the  northerly  part,  was  formed,  viz.  on  the  i7th 
December  1742,  which  has  fince  been  made  a  dif- 
tin6l  town. 

The  fouth  part  of  this  original  grant  wliich  is 
now  Shrewfbury,  is  about  feven  miles  in  length 
from  north  to  fouth,  and  about,  three  and  an 
half  or  four  miles  in  width  ;  and  it  is  bounded  by 
Worcefter  on  the  weft  ;  by  Boy  1ft  on  on  the 
north  ;  by  Weflborough  and  Northborougn  on 
the  eaft  ;  and  by  Grafton  on  the  fouth.  It  is  fit- 
uated  about  fix  miles  from  Worcefter  courthoufe, 
a  little  to  the  northeaft,  and  from  Bofton  41  miles 
a  little  to  the  fouth  weft.  The  poft  road  from 
Bofton  to  WTorcefter,  and  fo  011  to  Newyork,  &c. 
palfes  direclly  through  the  town  ;  and  the  great 
road  from  Vermont,  and  from  the  upper  part  of 
Newhampfhire,  and  northweftern  part  of  the  coun 
ty,  unites  with  the  poft  road  about  a  mile  and  art 
half  weft  of  the  meetinghoufe.  Befides  which 
there  is  a  road  of  con fi deyrable  travel  from,  the 
northward,  directly  through  Shrewfbury,  to  Provi 
dence. 

The  ecclefiaftical  hiftory  of  this  place  is  but 
brief,  and  is  as  here  follows  : 

On  the  fourth  day  of  December  1723,  the  church 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  was  gathered  here,  and  on 
the  fame  day  the  Rev.  Job  Cufhing  was  ordained 
their  firft  Paftor.  He  continued  in  peace  and  love 
with  his  people,  and  faithfully  ferving  the  Lord  in 
the  work  of  the  miniftry  almoft  37  years  ;  and 

was 


136  SHREWSBURY. 

was  fuddenly  cut  off,  by  a  fit  of  the  apoplexy, 
Auguft  6th,  1760,  in  the  6jth  year  of  his  age. 
And  on  the  25th  of  June  1762,  the  Rev.  Jofeph 
Sumner  was  folemnly  inverted  with  the  paftoral 
office  in  this  place  ;  and  who  flill  continues  to 
minifler  to  them  in  holy  things.  There  are  a  few 
Baptifts  in  the  fouth  part  of  the  town,  but  no 
church  of  that  denomination. 

Before  we  proceed  to  a  Geographical  Defcrip- 
tion  of  this  town,  I  have  thought  that  fo  remarka 
ble  and  forrowful  an  occurrence  as  took  place  in 
Shrewfbury,  in  its  infancy,  ought  to  be  recorded  in 
this  hiftory.  I  fhall  give  it  in  the  words  of  the 
account  publifhed  in  the  only  Newfpaper  (I  have 
been  told)  then  printed  in  Newengland,  if  not  on 
this  fide  Philadelphia.  It  was  a  fmall  half  meet 
printed  by  B.  Green. 

"  Bo/Ion,  Augujl  i5th,  1723. 

"  An  exaft  account  of  the  awful  burning  of 
Capt.  John  Keyes's  houfe,  with  five  perfons  in  it, 
at  Shrewfbury,  in  the  night  between  the  7th  and 
8th  of  thisinft.  taken  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Breck  of  Maryborough,  and  from  the  mouth  of 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Bragg  of  the  fame,  formerly  of  Ipf- 
wich,  the  only  perfon  of  thofe  who  lodged  in  the 
houfe,  who,  by  a  diflinguifhing  providence,  efcap- 
ed  the  flames. 

"  Capt.  Keyes  was  building  an  houfe  about 
nine  or  ten  feet  off  his  old  one.  It  was  almofl 
finifiied.  And  Mr.  Bragg  aforefaid,  the  carpenter, 
with  his  brother  Abiel,  of  17  years  of  age,  and 
William  Oaks  of  1 8.  his  apprentices,  were  work 
ing 


SHREWSBURY.  137 

ing  about  it.  Capt.  Keyes,  with  his  wife  and  four 
daughters,  lodged  in  the  old  one ;  and  the  three 
carpenters,  with  three  fons  of  the  Captain's,  viz. 
Solomon  of  twenty,  John  of  thirteen,  and  Steven  of 
fix  years  of  age,  lay  in  the  new.  On  the  Wednefday 
night,  going  to  bed,  they  took  a  more  than  ordina 
ry  care  of  the  fire,  being  excited  thereto  by  the 
faying  of  one,  He  would  not  have  the  houfe  burnt  for 
an  hundred  pounds  ;  and  the  reply  of  another,  He 
would  not  for  two  hundred.  Upon  which,  they  care 
fully  raked  away  the  chips  lying  near  it,  and  flayed 
till  the  reft  were  almoft  burnt  out ;  and  then  they 
went  all  fix  together  into  three  beds  in  one  of  the 
chambers  ;  and  were  very  cheerly  and  merry  at  their 
going  to  bed,  which  was  about  ten  of  the  clock. 

"  But  about  midnight  Mr.  Bragg  was  awaked 
with  a  notion  of  the  houfe  being  on  fire,  and  a 
multitude  calling  to  quench  it  ;  with  which  he 
got  up,  faw  nothing,  heard  no  voice,  but  could 
hardly  fetch  any  breath,  through  the  ftifling 
fmoke  ;  concluded  the  houfe  was  on  fire,  perceiv 
ed  fome  body  ftirring,  againft  whom  he  hit  two  or 
three  times  m  the  dark  :  And  not  being  able  to 
fpeak,  or  to  breathe  any  longer,  and  ftriking  his 
forehead  againft  the  chimney,  he  thought  of  the 
window  and  happily  found  it  ;  When  he  gained 
it,  he  tarried  a  minute,  holding  it  fail  with  one 
hand,  and  reaching  out  the  other,  in  hopes  of  meet 
ing  with  fome  or  other  to  fave  them,  till  the  fmoke 
and  fire  came  fo  thick  and  fcorching  upon  him,  he 
could  endure  no  longer  ;  and  hearing  no  noife  in. 
the  chamber,  only,  as  he  thought,  a  faint  groan  or 
K  two, 


138  SHREWSBURY. 

two,  lie  was  forced  to  jump  out,  and,  the  windour 
being  fmall,  head  foremoft  ;  though  he  fuppofes, 
by  God's  good  providence,  he  turned  before  he 
came  to  the  ground.  As  Mr.  Bragg  was  juft  got 
up  again,  Capt.  Keyes  being  awaked  in  the  old 
houfe,  was  coming  to  this  fide  of  the  new,  and 
met  him.  But  the  flame  immediately  burft  out  of 
the  windows,  and  the  houfe  was  quickly  all  on  a  light 
fire.  No  noife  was  heard  of  the  other  five  who 
perifhed  ;  and  it  is  very  queflionable,  whether 
more  than  one  of  them  moved  out  of  their  beds. 
The  old  houfe  was  alfo  burnt,  and  almoft  every 
thing  in  it  :  But  the  people  were  faved,  through 
the  great  goodhefs  of  God.  But  a  moil  dreadful 
fight  it  was  in  the  morning,  to  fee  the  five  bodies 
frying  in  the  fire,  among  the  timbers  fallen  down 
in  the  cellar,  till  towards  the  evening,  when  the 
few  almoft  confumed  fragments,  without  heads  or 
limbs,  were  gathered,  put  into  one  coffin,  and  bu 
ried.  Pfalm  Ixvi,  3,  Say  unto  God,  How  terrible  art 
thou  in  thy  works  !  James  iv,  1510,  Ye  know  not 
lohat  Jhall  be  on  the  morrow.  Luke  xii,  4Oth,  Be 
ye  therefore  ready."  Thus  far  the  newfpaper. 

The  Capt.  Keyes  abovenamed,  was  afterwards 
the  well  known  and  much  cfteemed  Major  John 
Keyes,  who  died  in  Shrewsbury,  not  many  years 
fince,  in  a  very  advanced  age.  The  new  houfe 
which  was  burnt,  flood  on  the  great  road  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  eaftward  from  the  prefent 
meetinghoufe.  And  upon  the  fame  fpot  a  large 
dwelling  houfe  now  Hands. 

Let 


SHREWSBURY.  139 

Let  us  now  proceed  to  defcribe  the  town  of 
Shrewfbury.  Much  the  greater  part  of  this  town 
is  upon  quite  high  land.  Indeed  it  is  one  large 
and  extenfive  hill,  and  the  meetinghoufe  ftands 
nearly  upon  the  higheft  part  of  it  :  The  land  falls 
but  very  little  to  the  north  :  To  the  fouth,  the  de- 
fcent  is  long,  but  gradual  :  To  the  eaft,  as  the 
great  road  runs,  there  is  a  defcent  towards  North- 
borough,  for  the  fpace  of  two  miles  or  more,  nay, 
even  fome  way  into  Northborough  :  To  the  weft, 
there  is  half  a  mile  of  rocky  plain,  and  then  a 
pretty  fteep  defcent  to  a  fmall  plain,  before  you 
come  to  the  head  of  Long  Pond,  and  beyond  that 
the  land  rifes  immediately,  and  there  is  quite  a 
fleep  hill  before  you  leave  Shrewfbury,  on  the 
way  to  Worcefter.  The  town  is  not  very  uneven 
confidered  altogether,  but  is  pretty  rocky.  There 
is  a  very  large  and  extenfive  profpecl:  from  the 
middle  of  the  town,  and  all  round  the  meeting 
houfe,  eaft  and  weft,  north  and  fouth,  and  from  fome 
parts  of  the  town  feven  meetinghoufes  can  be  dif- 
cerned.  The  land,  in  general,  is  rather  rough  and 
hard,  but  the  foil  is  ftrong,  rich,  and  very  produc 
tive  when  fubdued.  The  higher  lands  are  very- 
good  for  orcharding,  and  fruit  trees  of  all  kinds, 
and  for  pafturage,  and  even  for  mowing  ;  for  the 
land  is  not  dry,  and  it  bears  a  dry  feafon  exceed 
ing  well.  It  is  not  fo  well  proportioned  with  til 
lage  land ;  however,  what  they  till  is  very  produc 
tive,  and  richly  repays  the  labour  beftowed  upon 
it.  There  is  very  little  poor  broken,  wafte  land 
in  the  town,  And  it  is  richly  ftored  with  a  fine 
K  2  young 


I4o  SHREWSBURY. 

young  thrifty  growth  of  the  beft  of  wood  for  fuel, 
fuch  as  oak  of  all  kinds,  walnut  and  chcfnut,  and 
the  lower  lands  bear  afh,  birch,  maple,  &c.  &c. 

The  town  is  pretty  well  fupplied  with  waters, 
by  various  fp rings  and  rivulets,  although  there  is 
not  one  large  ftream  which  runs  through  the  town. 
The  largeft  ftream  in  the  town  is  that  which  iflues 
from  Sewall's  Pond,  which  is  within  the  limits  of 
Boylflon,  and  running  foutherly  a  mile  and  a 
quarter,  falls  into  Long  Pond,  on  the  road  to 
Worcefter,  over  which  is  the  bridge  at  the  head  of 
faid  pond.  This  pond,  called  by  the  natives, 
Quinfigamond,  but  commonly  Long  Pond,  is  a 
beautiful  piece  of  water,  in  the  form  of  a  crefcent, 
nearly  four  miles  in  length,  as  it  runs  (though  on 
a  ft  rarght  line  but  three  miles  and  twenty  four  rods) 
and  it  is  from  100  rods  to  nearly  a  mile  in  width, 
although  in  one  place,  it  be  not  more  than  forty 
rods.  This  pond  lies  almoft  wholly  within  the 
bounds  of  Shrewfburj-,  not  more  than  one  acre 
falling  within  the  limits  of  Worcefter.  It  is,  per 
haps,  the  largeft  and  fineft  pond  in  the  county. 
Indeed,  it  may  very  fitly  be  denominated  a  lake. 
Upon  the  top  of  the  hill,  on  the  weft  fide  of  Shrewf- 
bury,  it  appears  to  travellers  as  a  large  river,  or- 
"namented  with  woods  on  each  fide.  It  affords 
great  plenty  of  fiih,  as  pickerel,  large  perch,  eels, 
miners,  breams,  Sec.  and  the  brooks  which  run 
into  it,  contain  fome  trout.  The  water  of  this 
pond  is  in  general  deep  ;  in  fome  places  it  has 
been  found  ninety  fix  feet  deep.  In  this  pond 
there  are  a  number  of  Iflands  of  various  fizes. 

The 


SHREWSBURY.  141 

The  firft,  or  uppermoft,  at  the  north  end,  is  call 
ed  Little  Pine  Ifland,  has  upon  it  a  thicket  of 
vines,  and  contains  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre. 
The  fecond  is  Grafs  Ifland,  covered  with  grafs  and 
willows,  and  which  has  been  mowed  in  a  dry  fea- 
fon.  The  third  is  called  Sherman's  Ifland,  and 
contains  about  one  acre  and  an  half,  and  has  a 
growth  of  fmall  timber  and  wood  upon  it,  of  dif 
ferent  kinds.  The  fourth  is  called  Bowman's  Ifl 
and,  of  about  three  acres,  and  is  clothed  with  pine 
and  other  timber.  The  fifth  is  denominated  Bar 
berry  Ifland,  from  the  confiderable  quantity  of  thofe 
berries  which  grow  thereon  ;  this  contains  about 
three  acres.  The  fixth  is  another  Grafs  Ifland, 
having  upon  it  willows  and  waterbufhes.  The 
feventh  is  known  by  the  name  of  Grape  Ifland, 
of  about  the  fourth  of  an  acre,  bears  large  quan 
tities  of  grapes.  The  eighth,  commonly  call 
ed  Sharp  Pine  Ifland,  of  three  quarters  of  an  acre, 
is  covered  with  divers  forts  of  wood.  The  ninth 
is  known  by  the  name  of  Ram  Ifland,  of  two  acres, 
covered  with  oak  and  chefnut.  The  tenth  and  lafl 
is  a  very  large  ifland,  and  generally  called  Strat- 
ten's  Ifland  ;  this  contains  about  150  acres  ;  a 
confiderable  part  of  which  is  under  cultivation  ; 
and  there  are  three  families  living  thereon,  having 
good  farms  :  Thefe  are  inhabitants  of  Shrewsbury. 
This  ifland  has  oak,  chefnut,  walnut,  and  fome 
pine  thereon.  There  are  two  or  three  other  places 
in  the  pond  where  land  appears  in  a  dry  feafon, 
but  at  other  times  are  covered  with  water.  This 
is  bounded  north  and  weft,  by  the  Long  or  Great 
K  3  Pond  j, 


142  SHREWSBURY. 

Pond  ;  foutheaft,  by  what  is  called  Half  Moon 
Pond  ;  fouth,  by  Flint's  Pond  ;  eaft,  by  Round 
Pond,  all  which  communicate  with  each  other. 
From  them  runs  a  river,  at  the  foutheaft,  which 
paffes  into  Grafton,  whereon  are  a  number  of  mills, 
and  other  water  works.  There  is  a  fmall  outlet 
from  Long  Pond,  foutherly,  into  Flint's  Pond  ; 
and  from  Flint's  Pond  eaftwardly,  there  is  an  out 
let  into  the  river  juft  mentioned.  And  what  is 
truly  noticeable  is  this,  while  the  water,  more  gen 
erally,  runs  out  of  Long  Pond  into  Flint's  Pond, 
yet  in  the  drier  feafons  of  the  year,  the  water  runs 
out  of  Flint's  Pond  into  Long  Pond  ;  for  Flint's 
Pond  is  fed  by  fprings  and  rivulets,  which  keep  it 
always  full.  There  is  a  pond  called  Jordan  Pond, 
lying  about  half  a  mile  eaftward  of  the  great  or 
Long  Pond,  and  about  midway  of  the  length  of 
it,  and  from  this  there  is  an  outlet,  by  which  wa 
ters  fome  parts  of  the  year  empty  into  Long  Pond. 
On  the  flream  which  runs  from  Sewall's  Pond  in 
to  Quinfigamond  or  Long  Pond,  there  is  a  grift 
mill.  Befides  this,  there  is  a  ftream  which  rifes 
in  the  northweft  part  of  the  town,  on  which  there 
are  two  faw  mills  :  This  runs  foutherly,  and 
empties  into  Long  Pond  on  the  eaftern  fide. 
There  is  alfo  another  ftream,  which  rifes  from 
fprings  a  little  fouth  of  the  meetinghoufe,  on 
which  are  mills,  and  running  northeafterly,  comes 
to  the  fide  of  the  great  road,  affording  a  fine  wa 
tering  place  to  travellers  and  teamfters,  and  there 
it  is  joined  by  two  other  rivulets,  and  taking  a 

foutheaft 


L  U  N  E  N  B  U  R  G.  143 

ffoutheaft  direction,  and  running  through  the  fouth- 
weft  angle  of  Northborough,  there  empties  into 
the  River  Aflabet. 

In  this  town  there  are  l>oth  Pot  and  Pearl  Afh 
works,  and  where  large  quantities  are  made  in  a 
year. 

The  people  in  Shrew  {bury  are  generally  farm 
ers,  though  they  have  a  due  proportion  of  traders 
in  European  and  Weftindia  goods,  and  mechan- 
icks  of  various  forts.  On  the  great  road  the  build 
ings  are  large  and  handfome  ;  and  the  town  makes 
a  pretty  appearance  ;  and  the  number  of  inhabit- 
,ants,  when  the  cenfus  was  taken,  was  963. 


LUNENBURG. 


the  4th  of  November,  1719,  the 
General  Court,  at  the  requefl  of  a  number  of  gen 
tlemen,  made  a  grant  to  them  of  this  territory  for 
a  valuable  confideration,  referring,  however,  col 
lege,  fchool,  and  minifterial  rights  of  land;  as  alfo 
a  right  to  the  firfl  ordained  minifter. 

There  is  a  hill,  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  call 
ed  Turkey  Hill,  on  account  of  the  great  number  of 
wild  Turkies  which  frequented  the  place  in  that 
day.  It  ftill  retains  the  name  ;  and  gave  denom 
ination  to  the  whole  trad,  previous  to  its  incor 
poration  ;  which  took  place  on  Auguft  ift,  1728, 
when  the  name  of  Lwenburg  was  given  to  it,  in 
K  4  compliment 


144  LUNENBURG; 

compliment  to  George  II,  who,  the  preceding 
year,  came  to  the  Britifh  throne  ;  and  was  ftyled 
Duke  of  Lunenburg,  as  having  in  his  German,  do 
minions  a  town  of  that  name. 

The  firfl  fettler  in  this  place,  was  a  tylr.  Samuel 
Page,  who  was  dubbed  governor  Page,  and  is 
mentioned  by  that  title  to  this  day  :  He  lived  to  a 
great  age,  and  died  in  September,  1747.  Many  of 
the  firfl  fettlers  were  emigrants  from  Ireland  and 
Scotland  ;  whofe  defcendants,  by  intermarriages, 
are  now  blended  and  incorporated  with  the  other 
inhabitants. 

The  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory  of  die  place  is  as  fol 
lows.  Like  people  in  general,  at  that  day,  who 
came  to  America  for  the  fake  of  enjoying  the  fac- 
red  rights  of  confcience,  they  were  fond  of  fup- 
porting  the  publick  inftitutions  of  religion,  and 
took  early  care  to  fettle  a  minifter  :  Accordingly, 
here  a  church  was  gathered,  and  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Gardner,  (who  had  been  the  firft  minifter  at  Wor- 
cefterj  was  inflalled  their  firft  minifter  on  the  15th 
of  May,  1728,  a  little  before  the  incorporation  of 
the  town.  Mr.  Gardner  continued  not  four  years 
in  the  miniftry  here  ;  being  difmifled  the  22d  of 
February,  1732.  After  his  difmiflion,  he  moved 
up  nigh  to  Conneclicut  River,  in  Newhampfhire 
State,  where  he  died,  but  a  few  years  fince,  in  a 
very  advanced  age. 

The  fecond  minifter  of  Lunenburg,  was  the 
Rev.  David  Steams,  who  was  ordained  April  i8th, 
1733  ;  and  died  of  a  peripneumony,  March  gth, 
1761,  in  the  5  ad  year  of  his  age,  and  28th  of  his 

miniftry. 


LUNENBURG.  145 

nuniftry.     As  he  lived  greatbf  beloved,  he  died  no 
lefs.  lamented. 

He  was  fucceeded,  for  a  few  days,  by  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Payfon,  who  was.  Separated  unto  the  facred 
work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  September  8th,  1762  j 
and  died  February  i^th,  1763,  of  an  atrophy. 

He  was  fucceeded  by  the  Rev.  Zabdiel  Adams, 
who  was  folemnly  confecnited  unto  the  fervice  of 
God,  in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son,  on  the  5th  of  Sep 
tember,  1764,  and  who  is  {till  living', 

During  the  adminiflration  of  thefe  minifters 
there  have  been  baptized,  of  infants  and  adults, 
down  to  the  prefent  time,  no  iefs  than  2400  per- 
fons  :  And  the  church  here  is  comparatively 
large,  containing  very  little  fhort  of  two  hundred 
communicants. 

The  growth  and  increafe  of  Lunenburg  was 
rapid  and  great  ;  for  in  the  year  1764,  the  whole 
town  of  Fitchburg  was  taken  from  it.  It  is  now- 
bounded  by  Townfend,  in  the  county  of  Middle- 
fex,  on  the  north  ;  by  Shirley,  in  the  fame  county, 
on,  the  eajl  ;  by  Leorninfter,  on  the  fouth  ;  and  by 
Fitchburg,  on  the  weft.  It  is  about  44  miles  dif- 
tant  from  Boflon,  over  Charles  River  bridge,  to 
the  norchweft  ;  and  25  miles  north  by  ealt,  from 
the  courthoufe  in  Wo.cefler. 

The  foil  of  this  town  is  fweet,  and  as  productive 
as  is  ufualiy  found  in  fo  northern  a  lituation. 
For  though  tne  land  be  in  general  high,  yet  by 
reafon  of  its  cohciive  texture,  and  having  a  clayey 
flratum.  within  a  few  feet  of  its  furface,  it  retains 
moifture  fufficient  for  vegetation  through  the  whole 

fummer, 


L  U  N  E  N  B  U  R  G. 

dimmer,  unlefs  in  feafons  of  feverc  drought.  The 
foil  is  friendly  to  the  growing  of  wheat,  rye,  In 
dian  corn,  oats,  &c.  The  wheat  raifed  on  the  hills 
is  of  the  firft  quality.  Many  parts  of  it  bear  hemp 
and  flax  luxuriantly.  The  mowing  and  pafture 
lands  are  equal  to  what  are  generally  found  in  the 
county.  It  is  a  place  famed  for  cyder  ;  as  their 
high  lands  are  excellent  for  orcharding  :  But  the 
canker  worms  beginning  to  infefl  the  trees,  threat 
en  them  with  a  fcarcity  of  this  kind  of  fruit. 

The  natural  growth  of  wood  and  timber  in  the 
town  is  oak,  white,  red,  black  and  gray.  Of  wal 
nut  there  is  confiderable  plenty  ;  and  of  chefnut 
a  large  proportion.  In  the  low  lands  there  is  afh, 
alfo  rock  and  white  maple,  black,  white  and  yel 
low  birch,  fome  beach  and  other  hard  wood. 
Neverthelefs,  as  there  is  very  little  wafte  land,  and 
the  people  .are  numerous,  fuel  will  in  a  few  years 
be  fcarce  and  dear.  White  and  yellow  pines  were 
plenty  in  the  infancy  of  the  plantation  ;  but  from 
the  great  and  long  confumption  of  both,  a  fcarcity 
is  fenfibly  felt.  Although  the  furface  of  the  town 
is  uneven,  and  may  be  denominated  hilly ;  yet  it 
is  not  rocky  ;  there  being,  take  the  town  in  gener 
al,  not  more  than  ftones  fufficient  to  wall  in  the 
feveral  inclofures. 

From  the  elevated  fituation  of  the  land,  and  its 
proximity  to  thofe  lofty  mountains,  the  Grand 
Monadinock  in  Newhampfhire,  and  the  Watchu- 
fett  in  this  county,  being  about  twelve  miles  from 
the  latter,  and  twenty  five  from  the  former,  the  air 
is  keen  and  piercing  in  winter,  pkafantin  fummer, 

and 


L  U  N'E  N  B  U  R  G.  147 

and  through  the  whole  year  very  falubrious.  Here 
are  little  or  no  ftagnant  waters  ;  but  few  meadows  ; 
and  but  few  brooks  and  ftreams.  In  confequence 
of  which  they  are  in  a  great  degree  exempted" 
from  fogs,  from  deleterious  vapours  and  exhala 
tions  ;  and  having  the  air  ventilated  by  high  winds, 
the  inhabitants  are  remarkably  healthy,  and  free 
from  thofe  diforders  of  the  putrefcent  kind  which 
fweep  off  many  in  other  places  ;  and  they  double 
their  numbers  in  lefs  than  25  years.  This  occa- 
fions  large  emigrations,  and  as  the  farms  are  fmall 
in  general,  being  on  an  average  not  more  than 
75  or  80  acres  ;  this,  together  with  the  fecundity 
of  the  people,  produces  a  large  number  of  pau 
pers,  with  which  the  town  is  burdened  more  fo,  per 
haps,  than  any  other  town  in  the  county  ;  creating 
an  expenfe  beyond  that  of  fupporting  the  gofpel. 
However,  the  greater  part  of  the  people  live  com 
fortably,  and  a  few  may  be  faid  to  be  opulent. 
The  people  are  induftrious  and  economical,  gen 
erous,  hofpitable  to  ftrangers,  and  much  given  to 
convivial  entertainments. 

The  town  labours  under  other  difadvantages  be- 
fides  thofe  already  mentioned.  For  though  the 
dire&eft  route  from  the  northerly  part  of  Connecti 
cut  River,  and  from  the  State  of  Vermont,  to  Bof- 
ton,  be  through  Lunenburg,  yet  from  difficulty  in 
the  road  for  a  ftiort  fpace  of  way,  and  the  influ 
ence  of  certain  men,  the  travel  paffes  to  the  north 
or  fouth  of  it ;  whereby  the  people  are  left  defti- 
tute  of  all  the  benefit  arifing  from  travellers  de- 
pofiting  their  money  among  them, 

Befides 


LUNENBURG. 

Befides  this,  they  labour  under  the  want  of  fuf- 
ficient  water  to  cany  their  corn  and  faw  mills. 
Though  there  are  feveral  fmall  ftreams  on  which 
there  are  mills,  yet  they  are  generally  inoperative 
a  confiderable  part  of  the  year.  Mulpus,  fo  call 
ed,  is  but  a  irnall  brook,  which,  originating  in  the 
weft  part  of  the  to\vn,  runs  eaft  about  twelve  miles, 
and  then  empties  itfelf  into  the  River  Nafhaway, 
in  the  north  part  of  Shirley.  This  deficiency  of 
water  obliges  fome  of  the  inhabitants  to  carry  their 
grain  to  other  towns  to  be  ground,  a  certain  part 
of  the  year.  But  while  we  fpeak  of  this  Angular 
deficiency  of  water,  we  are  conftrained  to  mention 
a  Mr.  Wctherbce,  who,  haying  built  both  corn  and 
faw  mills,  in  the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town,  on 
what  is  called  part  of  the  north  branch  of  Naflia- 
way  River,  and  finding,  by  feveral  years  experi 
ence,  that  the  water  was  not  fufficicnt  to  carry  his 
mills,  except  in  the  fpring  of  the  year,  or  in  rainy 
feafons,  was  at  great  expenfe  to  dig  a  canal,  in 
length  about  a  mile,  to  convey  water  from  a  larger 
branch  of  the  fame  river,  (which  comes  from 
Weftminfter)  into  his  mill  pond ;  which  enables 
him  in  a  wet  feafon,  to  grind  for  all ;  and,  in  a 
dry  one,  for  moft  of  his  numerous  cuftomers.  An 
inftance  of  fo  fpirited  and  laudable  enterprizc  is 
worthy  to  be  tranfmitted  to  pofterity.  This  man, 
it  is  thought,  makes  the  beft  wheat  flour  within 
thecompafs  of  Newengland ;  and  has  grain  brought 
to  his  mill  from  remote  places. 

In  the  fouthweft,   ibuth,  and   foutheaft  parts  of 
the  town,  are  three  ponds,  which,   retaining  their 

Indian 


L  U  N  E  N  B  U  R  G.  149 

Indian  names,  are  called  Onkefhewalom,  Maffa- 
pog,  and  Catatoonamug  ;  The  firfl  of  which  is 
nearly  two  miles  and  an  half ;  the  fecond,  two 
miles,  and  the  laft  not  more  than  one  mile  in  cir 
cumference.  From  thefe  ponds,  the  neighbouring 
anglers  draw  from  time  to  time,  pickerel,  perch, 
roach,  bream,  and  other  frefh  water  fifh,  not  only 
fo  as  to  give  themfelves  a  delicious  repaft,  but 
fometimes  a  quantity  to  fell  to  their  townfmen. 

Mines,  minerals  or  foflils,  there  are  none  in  the 
town  ;  nor  furnaces,  or  forges.  The  blackfmiihs 
bring  their  iron  from  a  diflance.  The  nailing  bufi- 
nefs  has  been  carried  on  here  to  advantage. 

In  giving  an  account  of  Lunenburg,  we  ought 
not  to  omit  the  mention  of  Edward  Hartwell,  Efq; 
who  early  came  into  the  place,  and  poffefling  ad 
vantages  above  people  in  general,  was  promoted  in 
the  town  and  county  ;  he  was  a  deacon  of  the 
church  ;  and,  patting  different  grades  of  office, 
was  Major  of  a  regiment  of  militia  ;  a  juftice  of 
the  peace  ;  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  ;  and  a  representative  of  the  town,  with 
few  interruptions,  for  a  great  number  of  years ;  in 
which  ftation  he  continued  until  a  very  advanced 
period  of  his  life  ;  and,  finally,  he  died  in  the  97 th 
year  of  his  age,  as  full  of  piety  as  of  days.  This 
gentleman  was  much  engaged  in  the  Indian  wars, 
and  was  very  helpful  to  the  neighbouring  towns  in, 
fcouring  the  woods,  and  driving  off  the  favages. 
In  Lunenburg,  indeed,  he  had  little  work  of  this 
kind  to  perform.  For,  though  the  Indians  afore 
time  inhabited  this  territory;  as  is  evident  by  vef- 

tiges 


150  L  U  N  E  N  B  U  R  G. 

tiges  thereof  remaining  to  this  day,  yet  they  never 
much  annoyed  the  Englifh  ;  they  did,  indeed,  fo 
put  them  in  fear,  that  between  the  years  1740  and 
1750,  the  inhabitants  frequently  went  armed  to  the 
houfe  of  God  on  the  fabbath.  There  were  alfo  a 
few  troops  ftationed  in  this  town  at  garrifoned 
houfes,  to  which  the  people  retired  at  night  for 
fafety.  In  the  fummer  of  the  year  1749,  the  In 
dians  came  into  the  northweft  limits  of  the  town, 
and  killed  two  foldiers,  Jennings  and  Blodget, 
ivho  were  ftationed  there,  and  carried  Mr.  John 
Fitch  and  his  family  into  captivity,  who  all  re 
turned  in  fafety,  after  enduring  incredible  hard- 
fhips  and  fatigues,  except  Mrs.  Fitch  who  ficken- 
ed  and  died  in  Canada. 

Lunenburg  is  almoft  wholly  fettled  :  The  town 
contains  but  14000  acres  of  land  ;  and  on  this 
fpace,  when  the  late  cenfus  was  taken,  there  were 
192  houfes,  and  nearly  1300  fouls. 

I  mail  clofe  the  account  of  Lunenburg  in  the 
words  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  in  a  letter  to 
the  author.  "  The  town  is  much  more  remarka 
ble  for  the  health  than  the  wealth  of  its  inhabitants. 
Almoft  delHtute  of  travel  through  it,  the  people 
live  an  independent,  but  folitary  life.  In  their  ec- 
cicfiaftical  affairs  they  have  been  remarkably  peace 
able.  They  difmiffed  Mr.  Gardner  ;  but  becaufe 
he  was  unworthy.  Two  of  their  minifters  died  in 
rapid  fucceffion.  None  of  them  were  fo  long  in 
the  miniftry.  nor  fo  old,  as  myfelf.  Almoft  thirty 
years  have  I  lived  among  them  in  profound  peace." 

DUDLEY. 


-I  HE  grant  of  this  townfhip  was  orig 
inally  made  to  the  Hon.  Meffrs.  Paul  and  Wil 
liam  Dudley,  of  Roxbury,  while  yet  in  the  pofleC- 
lion  of  the  aborigines,  the  tribe  known  at  this  day, 
by  the  name  of  the  Pegan  Tribe.  It  was  to  com- 
prife  all  the  lands  between  Woodftock,  or  the  col 
ony  line,  fouth  ;  Oxford,  north  ;  the  grant  to 
Medfield,  now  Sturbridge,  weft  ;  and  Newfher- 
burne,  now  Douglafs,  eaft.  This  traft  of  land 
was  incorporated  by  a 61;  of  the  Legiflature,  on  the 
2d  of  February,  1731,  and  the  name  of  Dudley  was 
given  to  it,  as  a  token  of  refpeft  to  that  family, 
who  were  principal  proprietors  of  the  foil,  and 
great  benefa&ors  to  the  firft  fettlers  in  their  in 
fancy.  Since  the  incorporation  of  Dudley,  an  ad 
dition  was  made  to  it  by  a  ftrip  of  land  taken 
from.  Oxford,  and  annexed  thereto.  The  prefent 
extent  of  this  town  is  nearly  eaft  and  weft  about 
nine  miles  ;  north  and  fouth  about  four  miles.  It 
is  now  bounded,  north,  by  Oxford,  and  Charlton  ; 
eaft,  by  Douglafs ;  fouth,  by  the  ftate  line,  or 
Woodftock  ;  and  weft,  by  Sturbridge. 

Dudley  has  but  one  religious  fociety,  viz.  con 
gregational,  although  there  may  be  about  thirty 
families  of  various  other  perfuafions,  in  the  place. 
The  church  of  Chrift  here  was  founded  in  the  year 
1732,  and  the  Rev,  Perley  Howe  was  folemnly  in- 

vefted 


152  DUDLEY. 

vefted  with  the  facerdotal  office  in  the  year  1735. 
He  was  difmiffed  from  his  particular  relation 
to  the  church  and  flock  of  God  in  Dudley  in 
'743.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  was  afterwards  in- 
flailed  at  Killingfley  in  Connecticut.  He  was 
fuccecded  in  the  paftoral  office  at  Dudley  by  the 
Rev.  Charles  Glcafon,  who  was  ordained  October 
31  ft,  1744.  He  con  tinned  the  worthy,  faithful  and 
beloved  minister  of  the  town  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  May  yth,  1790.  The  Rev.  Jofhua 
Johnfon,  who  had  been  for  a  (hort  time  minifter 
of  the  north  parifh  in  Woodftock,  was  inftalled 
Pallor  of  the  church  and  congregation  in  Dudley, 
as  fucceflbr  to  Mr.  Glcafon,  December  ift,  1790. 

The  congregational  meetinghoufe,  which  is  the 
only  one  in  this  town,  was  erefted  in  the  year 
1734.  It  (lands  on  an  hill,  which  commands  a 
fouth  profpeft  of  extenfive  farms  even  to  the  dif- 
tance  of  twelve  miles.  Four  acres  of  land  on  the 
fummit  of  this  hill  were  given  to  the  town  for  pub- 
lick  ufes,  by  the  Pegan  tribe  of  Indians,  on  condi 
tion  that  ail  of  their  tribe,  who  Ihould  ever  inhabit 
the  town,  mould  have  the  right  to  convenient  feats 
in  the  meetinghoufe  on  days  of  public  worfhip. 
This  tiibe  ftili  exifls,  to  the  number  of  ten  or 
twelve,  and  hold  about  200  acres  of  excellent 
land  near  the  middle  of  the  town  ;  but  their 
whole  interefl  is  conflanily  taken  care  of  by  a  com 
mittee  of  the  General  Court. 

The  general  face  of  this  town  is  hilly,  but  not 
mountainous.  It  is  richly  and  beautifully  inter- 
fperfed  with  hills,  valleys,  and  firearm  of  water. 

The 


DUDLEY.  153 

The  hills  are  of  eafy  afcent,  paflable  with  teams, 
and  moft  of  them  fuitable  and  good  for  cultiva 
tion.  The  foil  in  general  is  good  and  fertile,  pro 
ducing  all  forts  of  grain  and  fruit,  and  grafs  in  plen 
ty  ;  and  the  land  affords  a  fufficiency  of  ftones 
for  fencing  in  the  farms.  There  is  one  hill  in 
the  town,  not  very  high,  famous  for  yielding  great 
quantities  of  moft  beautiful  building  Hones.  They 
are  taken  out  in  fquare  edged  flabs,  of  any  man 
ageable  length  or  width,  with  one  natural  face, 
fmoother  than  can  be  wrought  ;  they  are  capable 
of  being  fplit,  cut,  or  hammered  into  any  fhape 
or  thicknefs.  The  colour  of  thefe  ftones  is  a  very 
fine  light  gray ;  and  they  are  much  ufed  for  jambs, 
hearths,  mantle  pieces,  under  pinnings,  for  fteps 
and  door  ftones,  and  cellar  walls. 

The  forefts,  are  principally  of  oak,  chefnut,  and 
walnut,  yellow  pine,  and  fome  white  pine. 

This  town  abounds  with  ponds,  ftreams,  rivers 
and  fprings.  There  are  four  large  ponds,  well 
flared  with  all  the  ufual  forts  of  fifh  :  But  there  is 
one  efpecially  in  the  eaft  part  of  the  town,  called 
by  the  Indians  Chaubunagungamaug  :  This  is  five 
miles  in  length,  and  one  in  breadth.  Through  the 
weft  part  of  the  town,  from  northweft  to  the  fouth- 
eaft,  runs  the  rapid  river  Quinebaug,  of  about  twen 
ty  yards  in  width,  coming  from  Sturbridge,  and 
paffing  down  on  the  eaft  of  Woodftock,  Pomfret, 
&c.  to  Norwich.  Through  the  eaft  part  of  the 
town,  from  north  to  fouth,  runs  French  or  Stony- 
River.  This  is  about  fifteen  yards  in  width.  On 
this  are  fine  interval  and  meadow  lands,  which  be- 
L  ing 


154  HARVARD. 

ing  in  fpring  and  autumn  overflowed,  become 
very  excellent  mowing  and  arable  ground.  This 
river  comes  from  Oxford,  and  falls  into  Quinebaug 
ten  miles  below  this  town. 

This  is  a  large  and  flourifhing  town,  the  people 
fubfift  chiefly  by  farming,  except  the  ufual  me- 
chanicks,  and  a  few  traders  ;  and  when  the  enumer 
ation  of  the  Commonwealth  was  made,  there  were 
160  houfes  and  1114  inhabitants  in  the  place. 
Dudley  is  fituated  upon  the  State  line,  fixty  miles 
from  Boflon,  lying  about  fouthweft,  and  from 
Worceflerit  is  eighteen  miles,  nearly  fouth. 


1  HE  town  of  Harvard  is  fituated  on 
the  eaftern  fide  of  the  county,  thirty  five  miles 
from  Boflon,  a  little  to  the  north  of  weft,  and  is 
twenty  three  miles  from  the  courthoufe  in  Wor- 
cefter,  to  the  northeaft.  It  is  bounded  by  Groton 
on  the  north  ;  by  Lyttleton  on  the  northeaft  ;  by 
Boxborough  on  the  eaft  ;  by  Stow  on  the  fouth- 
cafl  ;  by  Bolton  on  the  fouth  ;  and  on  the  weft  by 
the  river  Nafhaway,  which  feparates  it  from  Lan- 
cafter,  and  Shirley.  Harvard  was  not  an  original 
grant,  but  taken  from  Lancafter,  Stow  and  Groton, 
principally  from  the  two  former.  From  the  cir- 

cumftance 


HARVARD.  155 

cumftance  of  its  being  made  up  of  the  corners  of 
other  towns,  it  was  rather  irregular  in  its  fhape  ; 
but  before  the  incorporation  of  Boxborough,  which 
took  off  the  eafterly  angle  of  this  town,  it  was 
nearly  equal  to  feven  miles  fquare  :  It  is  now  more 
than  fix.  The  bill  for  the  incorporation  of  this 
tracl:  of  land  paffed  the  Legiflature,  June  29th, 
1732,  when  it  was  called  Harvard,  to  bear  up  the 
name  of  that  excellent  and  worthy  minifter  of 
Charleftown  the  Rev.  John  Harvard,  who  died  in 
1638,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  Harvard  Univer- 
lity  in  Cambridge,  bequeathing  thereto  779^.  17*. 
zd.  when  by  a  fpecial  order  of  court,  it  took  the 
name  of  Harvard  College.  At  the  time  of  the  in 
corporation  of  the  town  of  Harvard,  it  confifted  of 
about  50  families. 

The  town  of  Harvard  is  very  hilly  and  uneven  ; 
the  land  is  rough  and  hard  to  fubdue,  but  the  foil 
is  warm  and  flrong,  rich  and  fertile.  It  produces 
good  crops  of  grain  of  all  kinds.  Such  broken 
land,  however,  is  better  adapted  to  the  raifing  of 
wheat  and  rye,  than  Indian  corn.  As  the  town- 
ftiip  is  rocky,  the  farmers  are  induced  to  appropri 
ate  a  large  proportion  of  their  land  to  grafs  and 
pafturage.  The  principal  articles  carried  hence 
to  market,  are  beef,  pork,  butter,  and  cheefe.  The 
high  lands  are  particularly  fertile  in  chefnut  trees, 
whofe  fruit  yields  the  owners  no  inconfiderable 
profit.  And  as  the  lands  are  excellent  for  orch 
arding,  many  farmers  pay  particular  attention  to 
raifing  all  kinds  of  fruit,  which  they  have  in  plen 
ty,  and  of  the  beft  quality. 

L  a  There 


156  HARVARD. 

There  are  about  1000  acres  of  what  is  called 
interval  land  in  this  town  ;  though  perhaps  half 
of  it  may  more  properly  be  ftyled  meadow. 

Although  there  are  feveral  hills  in  this  place, 
yet  there  are  but  three  which  have  names,  or  mer 
it  particular  notice.  The  firft  we  fhall  mention  is 
called  Pin  Hill,  from  its  remarkable  form  which  is 
pyramidical.  The  perpendicular  height  of  this 
hill,  from  the  brook  which  runs  at  the  foot  of  it, 
is  judged  to  be  two  hundred  feet.  In  the  bowels 
of  this  hill  are  contained  vaft  quantities  of  blue  or 
flate  ftone.  It  Jeafes  to  the  ftone  cutters  in  this 
and  a  neighbouring  town  for  61.  lOs.  per  annum. 
The  flones  taken  hence,  are  not  fo  eafily  wrought, 
as  fome  of  a  fimilar  kind  :  But  on  this  account, 
however,  they  are  more  valuable  for  jambs  and 
hearths,  as  they  in  the  fame  proportion,  do  the 
more  refill  the  heat  of  fire.  Thefe  ftones  arc 
chiefly  ufed,  for  grave  and  tomb  (lones  ;  and  are 
carried  to  a  great  diflance. 

Thofe  called  Bear  Hill,  and  Oak  Hill,  are  not, 
flric~lly  fpeaking,  diftincl:  hills,  but  links  only  in  a 
chain  of  hills,  which  begins  in  the  weft  part  of 
Lyttleton,  and  extends  fouthwefterly  through 
Harvard,  as  far  as  the  centre  of  Bolton.  Oak  Hill, 
however,  which  rifes  in  the  eaflerly  part  of  the 
town,  is  the  fummit  of  this  range,  and  affords  a 
profpeft  fingularly  divcrfified  and  extenfive.  The 
land  upon  thefe  hills  is  moflly  exceeding  good. 

The  general  growth  of  wood   in  Harvard,  is  the 
fame  as  in  other  towns  of  fimilar  foils.     Chefnut, 
oak  of  ail  kinds,  and  walnut,  conftitute  the  princi 
pal 


HARVARD.  157 

pal  part  on  the  high  lands.  They  have  fome  white 
pine,  and  in  the  northerly  part,  confiderable  pitch 
pine.  In  the  low  lands  they  have  much  elm,  fome 
butternut  and  button  wood,  birch,  am,  &c. 

Harvard  is  like  other  hilly,  rocky  places,  not 
dry,  but  moid  land,  and  well  watered  indeed  by 
numerous  fp rings  and  rivulets,  running  about  a- 
mong  the  hills,  and  which  caufe  them  to  rejoice 
on  every  fide. 

Nafhaway,  or  Lancafter  River,  flows  along  the 
confines  of  Harvard  upwards  of  fix  miles.  The 
depth  of  the  water,  when  the  bed  of  the  river  is  full, 
is  about  twelve  feet  ;  and  about  fix  feet  at  low- 
water.  This  river,  an  humble  imitator  of  the  Nile, 
overflows  its  banks  at  certain  feafons,  and  greatly 
fertilizes  the  bordering  lands. 

Still  River  originates  in  fome  marfhes  and  quag 
mires  in  the  wefterly  part  of  Bolton,  and  is  joined 
by  a  brook  running  from  the  interval  lands  in 
Lancafter,  near  the  river.  Thefe  two  ftreams  unite 
in  Harvard,  and  compofe  what  is  called  Still  River, 
or  long  pond,  or  lake,  which  paffes  in  a  filent  and 
almoft  imperceptible  manner,  for  three  miles,  (one 
mile  or  more  of  which  is  in  Harvard,)  and  then 
by  a  fmall  outlet,  empties  itfelf  into  the  river 
Nafhaway. 

There  are  two  or  three  ponds  of  fome  notoriety 
in  this  town.  The  largeft  of  thefe  begins  but  a 
little  fouthwefterly  of  the  meetinghoufe,  and  very 
nigh  the  feat  of  Col.  Bromfield,  and  extends  away 
foutherly.  It  is  called  Bear  Hill  Pond,  as  it  lies 
upon  the  wefterly  fide  of  that  hill.  Its  figure  is 
L  3  oblong  : 


158        HARVARD: 

oblong  :  Its  circumference  more  than  three  miles.' 
In  this  pond  are  two  (mail  iflands  of  about  three 
acres  each.  The  greateft  depth  of  this  pond  is  not 
more  than  twenty  feet. 

At  the  north  weft  angle  of  the  town,  is  fituated 
what  is  commonly  called  Hell  Pond,  from  its 
amazing  depth,  being  ninety  five  feet  in  one  place, 
by  meafure  ;  and  between  eighty  and  ninety  feet 
in  general,  all  over  the  pond,  and  immediately  as 
you  launch  from  more.  This  pond  is  nearly  cir 
cular.  Its  diameter  is  about  three  hundred  yards. 
Fifh  were  never  caught  here  until  within  a  few 
years,  when  pike  and  perch  were  put  therein,  which 
have  fince  multiplied  exceedingly.  Near  this  is  a 
fmall  pond,  with  which  the  former  is  fuppofed  to 
maintain  a  fubterraneous  communication.  There 
is  alfo  another,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  call 
ed  Robbins's  Pond  ;  but  this  is  not  remarkable  for 
fize  or  depth.  About  an  hundred  rods  from  Hell 
Pond,  is  a  fpring,  known  by  the  name  of  Cold 
Spring.  The  waters  hereof  are  always  pure  and 
cold,  and  never  freeze.  The  head  of  this  fpring  is 
two  or  three  yards  broad.  Bear  Hill  Pond  emits  a 
ftream  from  its  north  fide,  which  almoft  winds 
around  Pin  Hill  ;  and  which,  within  the  limits  of 
Harvard,  fupplies  with  water,  four  grift  mills,  one 
f;uv  mill,  one  clothiers'  works,  one  forge,  and  one 
trip  hammer.  Thefe  are  all  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town.  In  the  fouth  part,  there  are  two  grift  mills,  and 
one  faw  mill,  furnifhed  with  water  from  two  ftreams 
which  iffue  from  the  eaft  fide  of  the  chain  of  hills 
aboye  defcribed. 

It 


HARVARD.  159 

It  is  worthy  of  particular  mention,  that  the 
«aftern  fide  of  the  above  hills  is  uniformly  fteep, 
while  the  oppolite  fide  has  a  gentle  and  gradual 
declivity. 

At  the  foot  of  Oak   Hill,  on  the  eaftern  fide, 
there  is  a  mine  which  may  be  juftly  deemed  a  cu- 
riofity.     Early  in  the  year  1783,   when  a  rage  for 
the  treafures,   thought  to  be  hid  in  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,   was  prevalent  in   the   country,  it  was 
thought  by  fome   perfons,  from  the  colour  of  the 
earth  in  this   place,   and  from  the  working  of  the 
mineral  rods,  that  filver  ore  might  be  obtained  not 
far  beneath  the  furfcice  of  the  ground.    According 
ly  fome  gentlemen   in*his   town  and  its  vicinity, 
(twenty   five  in  number)  formed  themfelves  into  a 
mine  company  for  the  purpofe  of  defcrying  thofe 
hidden  treafures,   and  enriching  themfelves  there 
with.     Under  the  conduct  of  certain  men,  Meffrs. 
Ives  and  Peck,  they  began  their  operations  in  July 
following.      Thefe   were  continued,  though  with 
frequent  interruptions,   until  fometime  in  the  year, 
1789.     During  this  time,  they  had,  with  fome  dif 
ficulty,  digged  through  a  confiderable  quantity  of 
condenfed  gravel,  until  they  came  to  a  folid  rock  : 
Into  this   they  penetrated   more  than  forty  feet. 
But,  either  from  the  unlkilfulnefs  of  the  mineral- 
ifts,  or  for  want  of  perfeverance  in  their  employ 
ers,  the  mining  ore  has  not  yet  been  difcovered. 
The  company,   after  expending  one  thoufand  one 
hundred  dollars  in  the  procefs,  is  amically  diffolved. 
The  fides  of  this  cavity  are  almoft  rectilinear.  It  is 
about  fix  feet  high,  and  half  as  wide.     The  ex- 
L  4  cavation 


160  HARVARD. 

cavation  was  made,  partly  by  heating  the  rock  to 
a  great  degree,  and  then  cooling  it  fuddenly  with 
water  ;  but  the  greater  portion  of  it  was  effected 
with  powder.  Pieces  of  the  earth,  which  they  dug 
before  they  entered  the  rock,  had  the  appearance 
of  yellow  lead,  and  were  confiderably  fulphure- 
ous.  This  cavern  now  refts  a  deferted  monument 
of  fuccefslefs  toils.  Its  mouth  opens  to  the  eaft  ; 
and  the  rifing  fun,  to  a  perfon  in  the  other  ex 
tremity,  renders  the  profpeft  highly  delightful. 

The  town  of  Harvard  is  large  and  numerous, 
here  are  200  dwelling  houfes,  which,  like  thofe  of 
moft  country  towns  in  this  State,  are  fcattered  over 
the  place  without  much  or^er  ;  andconfiftof  fome 
good  and  more  ordinary  buildings.  The  inhabit 
ants  are  1400  ;  thefe  are  chiefly  farmers,  who  are 
frugal  and  induftrious,  and  fome  are  become 
wealthy.  They  have  two  or  three  traders  in  foreign 
goods,  and  all  the  ufual  forts  of  mechanicks. 

This  town  difcovers  great  folicitude  for  the  good 
education  of  its  children.  The  inhabitants  divide 
themfelves  into  eight  diftri&s :  In  each  there  is  a 
neat  and  commodious  fchoolhoufe  ;  and  fix  of 
them,  in  the  winter  feafon,  are  furnimed  with  latin 
grammar  inflru&ors  ;  the  other  two  with  Englifh 
grammar  matters.  In  the  fummer,  the  very  young 
children  are  taught  by  approved  females  ;  while 
they  who  are  more  advanced,  arc  handling  the 
plough  and  the  diftaff.  Here  a  library  company 
has  lately  been  formed.  They  have  at  prefent,  a- 
bout  one  hundred  volumes  in  their  library.  No 
doubt  it  will  foon  ]bc  considerably  augmented. 

There 


HARVARD.  161 

There  is  alfo  here  a  focial  club  eftabliflied,  con- 
lifting  of  twelve  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  who 
have  monthly  meetings.  In  them  they  endeavour 
to  acquire  information  on  the  common,  as  well  as 
on  the  moft  important  affairs  agitated  in  the  world. 

The  principles  and  modes  of  religion  in  Har 
vard,  are  uncommonly  numerous.  Within  the 
limits  of  the  town  dwell  congregationalifts,  ana- 
baptifts,  prefbyterians,  epifcopalians,  univerfal- 
ifts  and  makers.  Until  after  the  commencement  of 
the  late  war,  they  were  all  of  the  denomination  firft- 
mentioned  ;  and  this  flill  comprifes  five  fevenths 
of  the  fouls  in  the  town. 

The  congregational  church  in  Harvard  was  im- 
bodied  by  an  ecclefiaftical  council,  October  loth, 
1733,  and  the  Rev.  John  Seccombe  was,  the  fame 
day,  ordained  their  firfl  Paftor.  He  continued  un 
til  September  yth,  1757  (almoft  twenty  four  years 
in  the  facred  office  here)  when  he  was  difmiffed 
from  his  paftoral  relation  to  this  people.  Mr. 
Seccombe  was  afterwards  employed  many  years  in 
the  work  of  the  miniftry  in  the  province  of  Nova- 
fcotia,  where  he  died  in  1792,  aged  eighty  four 
years.  Mr.  Seccombe  was  fucceeded  in  the  work 
of  the  miniftry  at  Harvard,  by  the  Rev.  Jofeph 
Wheeler,  who  was  confecrated  thereunto  Decem 
ber  12th,  1759.  In  a  few  years  Mr.  Wheeler  was 
afflicted  with  bodily  infirmities,  which  peculiarly 
affeded  his  voice,  in  confequence  whereof  he  fo- 
licited  a  difmiffion  from  that  facred  employment, 
which  accordingly  took  place  by  advice  and  un 
der  the  direftion  of  a  mutual  council,  July  28th, 

1768. 


HARVARD. 

1768.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  foon  after,  and  fc* 
feveral  years  employed  by  the  town  as  their  rep- 
refentative  in  the  General  Court.  He  was  al- 
ib  a  worthy  Magiftrate,  and  Regifter  of  Probate  in 
the  county  of  Worcefter,  from  1776,  until  Februa 
ry  loth,  1793,  when  he  died  in  the  fifty  eighth 
year  of  his  age.  On  November  ift,  1769,  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Johnfon  was  ordained  to  the  paftoral  office 
in  Harvard.  He  was  fuffered  to  continue  but  a 
little  time,  being  removed  by  death  on  the  23d  of 
September  1777.  After  Mr.  Johnfon's  deceafe, 
the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Grofvenor  was  inftalled  their 
Paftor  on  the  igth  of  June  1782.  He  had  been 
before  Paflor  of  the  firft  church  in  Scituate  almofl 
feventeen  years.  Mr.  Grofvenor  was  not  fuflFered 
to  continue  long  at  Harvard,  being  tranflated  by 
death  to  a  better  world  May  28th,  1788,  in  the 
forty  ninth  year  of  his  age. 

The  town  was  deflitute  of  a  fettled  minifter 
near  four  years,  when  the  Rev.  William  Emerfon 
was  feparated  unto  that  facred  office,  May  23d, 
1792,  the  fifth  Paflor  in  fucceflion.  In  this 
church  of  Harvard  1 805  perfons  have  been  bap 
tized,  and  540  have  been  admitted  to  church  com 
munion. 

In  the  year  1776  an  anabaptift  fociety  began  to 
collecl:  in  Harvard.  It  was  eftablifhed  in  1778, 
when  Mr.  Ifaiah  Parker,  who  is  alfo  a  phyfician, 
was  ordained  their  teacher,  and  flill  continues. 
The  number  of  this  fociety  has  fince  been  fome- 
what  incrcafed  by  perfons  from  the  fkirts  of  the 
adjacent  towns.  This  fociety  have  a  pretty  meet- 

inghoufe 


HARVARD.  163 

inghoufe  in  the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town,  near 
to  Still  River,  in  a  pleafant  confpicuous  place. 
The  epifcopalians,  prefbyterians,  and  univerfalifts 
are  but  few,  and  have  no  diftinft  and  feparate  fo- 
cieties. 

Sometime  in  the  year  1780,  the  leaders  of  that 
feel;  of  religionifts,  called  makers,  came  into  this 
town  ;  and  as  there  are  few  of  them  indeed  in  any 
other  part  of  the  county,  it  is  highly  fitting  and 
proper  to  give  a  full  account  of  them  in  this  place. 

They  fixed  themfelves  down  in  a  corner  of  Har 
vard,  where  fuperflition  and  enthufiafm  had  con- 
fiderably  flourifhed  under  the  aufpices  of  one  Mr. 
Ireland.  A  part  of  this  man's  followers  kindled  at 
this  new  torch  of  fanaticifm,  while  the  majority  of 
thefe  old  fafhioned  enthufiafts  at  the  fight  of  the 
makers'  diftraftion  became  more  rational  and  fo- 
ber.  Since  their  beginning  in  Harvard,  they  have 
been  continually  making  reforms  in  their  fenti- 
ments,  modes  of  worfhip  and  manners.  In  a  re 
ligious  and  political  view  they  have  greatly  me 
liorated.  From  grofs  indecencies  in  their  rites 
and  behaviour,  they  are  become  moderate  and 
civil.  Formerly  they  were  indolent  and  trouble- 
fome  in  fociety  ;  now  they  are  the  moft  induftri- 
ous  and  peaceful  members  of  the  community. 
The  number  of  ftiakers  in  Harvard  is  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  Thefe  are  divided  into  three 
orders  ;  or  as  they  call  them,  gifts.  The  firft  of 
thefe  orders  confifts  principally  of  the  youngeft 
and  faireft  of  them  who  are  gathered.  Thefe  are 
under  the  moft  rigid  rules  poffible.  They  are 

never 


164  HARVARD. 

never  to  fee  any  of  the  world's  people,  nor  cqn- 
verfe  with  them  of  the  lower  orders.  All  their  ac 
tions,  words  and  fteps,  are  narrowly  infpe&ed  by 
their  fpiritual  teacher,  who  almoft  perfuades  them 
to  believe  that  he  is  converfant  with  their  thoughts. 
They  of  the  firft  order  are  privileged  with  his  o- 
ral  addreffes  ;  to  the  others  he  ufually  communi 
cates  his  monitions  by  a  meifenger. 

The  fecond  order  is  compofed  of  them  who  are 
gathered,  but  who  are  more  advanced  in  years,  and 
otherwife  lefs  vigorous  and  alert  in  labour  and  in 
devotion. 

The  lowcft  order  arc  they  who  live  about  in, 
families. 

Extreme  fimplicity  in  drefs  and  manners  charac 
terizes  this  fingular  religious  feel:.  They  are  neat 
in  their  apparel  and  furniture.  The  houfes  which 
they  have  erected  in  this  town,  are  large  and  com 
modious,  and  approach  to  fomething  like  elegance. 
Their  floors  and  flairs  are  all  covered  to  prevent 
making  a  noifc.  They  imitate  the  Moravians 
apparently  more  than  any  other  denomination  ; 
particularly  in  their  modes  of  government  and  fub- 
ordination.  They  affecl:  to  be  wholly  under  the 
dominion  of  the  Spirit  ;  and  to  crucify  even  the 
innocent  defires  of  the  flefti,  infomuch  that  they 
neither  many  nor  are  given  in  marriage.  So 
drift  are  they  in  their  laws  of  abftinence  from 
women,  that  the  two  fexes  are  not  permitted  to 
live  in  the  fame  houfe,  nor  even  to  enter  the  fame 
door.  Inftances  of  inchaftity,  efpecially  among 
••hi1  governed,  feldom  or  ever  occur.  The  orders 

are 


HARVARD.  165 

are  under  the  moft  complete  fubje&ion  to  their 
leaders.  The  utmoft  precifion  and  regularity  are 
obferved  in  their  eating,  fleeping  and  working. 
Hence  they  are  making  quite  rapid  proficiency  in 
the  lower  kinds  of  the  mechanick  arts  ;  and  fuch 
is  their  agricultural  fkill  and  perfeverance,  that 
they  have  reduced  the  moft  rugged  and  indoma- 
ble  part  of  Harvard  to  a  ftate  refembling  that  of  a 
garden. 

We  conclude  this  account  with  only  remarking, 
that  it  is  not  a  little  ftrange,  that  the  leaders  of 
this  deluded  feft,  who  certainly  can  claim  no  pre 
eminence  above  ordinary  men  in  point  of  capacity 
and  improvement,  (hould  thus  keep  bound  in  fer- 
vitude  fo  great  a  number  of  their  brethren  in  the 
very  heart  of  Newengland.  But  it  will  be  ftrang- 
er  dill,  if  in  fuch  an  era  as  this,  the  majority  of 
the  makers,  who  now  pant  for  liberty,  mould 
long  continue  in  fhackles  of  bondage  to  their  el 
ders. 

Having  faid  what  may  be  thought  quite  fuffi- 
cient  upon  the  ecclefiaftical  and  religious  ftate  of 
Harvard,  we  mail  clofe  our  account  of  this  place, 
with  faying  it  is  a  large,  profperous  and  wealthy 
town  ;  and  notwithftanding  the  diverfity  of  feels, 
the  people  are  peaceable  and  happy. 


GRAFTON, 


i66 


1  HIS  is  that  traft  of  land  of  four 
miles  fquare,  which  was  referved  for  the  Indians 
when  the  town  of  Sutton  was  granted  to  the  Eng- 
lifh.  It  was  called  by  the  Indians  Haflanamifco, 
and  known  by  that  name  only  until  April  i8th, 
1735,  when  it  was  incorporated  by  an  aft  of  the 
Legiflature,  and  called  Grafton.  Since  its  in- 
corporation  one  half  a  mile  of  land  was  taken 
from  Shrewfbury  and  added  to  Grafton,  on  the 
north,  and  about  half  a  mile  of  Sutton,  on  the 
fouth,  was  annexed  to  it ;  fo  that  Grafton  is  now 
five  miles  in  length,  from  north  to  fouth,  and  four 
in  width  from  eaft  to  weft.  This  town  is  bound 
ed,  on  the  north,  by  Shrewfbury  ;  on  the  eaft,  by 
Weftborough  and  Upton  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Upton 
and  Sutton  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Sutton. 

At  firft  there  were  divers  Indian  families  here  : 
As  they  diminifhed,  the  white  people  became 
proprietors  of  the  foil,  by  purchafe  ;  and  a  grant 
from  the  General  Court,  upon  thefe  conditions, 
however,  that  they  fhould  always  provide  preach 
ing  and  fchooling,  and  feats  in  the  meetinghoufe, 
for  the  remaining  Indians.  And  as  the  people 
hold  the  lands  of  the  original  four  miles  fquare, 
on  fuch  conditions,  they  muft  all  of  whatever  per- 
fuafion,  be  equally  bound  to  contribute  to  thefup- 
port  of  a  gofpel  minifter  in  the  place.  The  Gene 
ral 


GRAFTON.  167 

yal  Court  has  from  the  beginning,  appointed  a 
committee  of  three,  called  the  truftees  of  the  In 
dians'  intereft  ;  their  bufinefs  is  to  take  care  of 
their  property,  both  real  and  perfonal,  and  difpofe 
of  the  fame  to  the  beft  advantage,  for  the  fupport 
and  maintenance  of  the  Indians.  This  committee, 
at  prefent,  have  little  to  do  in  the  execution  of 
their  truft,  as  the  lands  have  by  length  of  time, 
and  various  concurring  circumflances,  chiefly  paff- 
ed  into  the  hands  of  the  white  people.  There  are 
indeed  feveral  farms  in  the  poffeflion  of  the  heirs 
of  the  Indians,  married  to  negroes  ;  but  it  is  faid 
there  is  not  one  male  in  the  town  at  this  day,  who 
is  all  of  Indian  extract  or  blood. 

The  Indians  very  foon  decreafed  in  this  place, 
and  the  whites  became  poffeflbrs  and  occupiers 
of  the  foil ;  and  fo  early  as  the  2 8th  of  December 
1731,  a  Chriftian  congregational  church  was  im- 
bodied  here,  and  on  the  next  day,  the  Rev.  Solo 
mon  Prentice  was  ordained  their  firft  Paftor.  He 
became  what  was  called  in  that  day,  a  zealous 
newlight,  or  more  properly,  a  raving  enthufiaft. 
He  was  difmifled  from  his  paftoral  relation  to 
Grafton,  July  8th,  1747,  and  became  an  itinerant 
preacher.  He  was  fucceeded  in  the  work  of  the 
gofpel  miniftry  at  Grafton  by  the  Rev.  Aaron 
Hutchinfon,  who  was  folemnly  confecrated  here 
unto  on  the  6th  of  June  1750.  Mr.  Hutchinfon 
continued  upwards  of  twenty  two  years  as  Paftor 
of  Grafton,  and  was  difmiffed  from  his  relation 
to  that  church  and  people,  November  i8th,  1772. 
He  has  fmce  generally  been  employed  in  preach 
ing 

•v.l  . 


168  GRAFTON. 

ing  the  gofpel,  and  is  ftill  living.  The  Rev.  Dan- 
iel  Grofvenor  fucceeded  Mr.  Hutchinfon  as  Paflor 
oOt  the  church  and  flock  of  God  in  Grafton,  to 
which  office  he  was  feparated  by  the  laying  on  of 
the  hands  of  the  prefbytery,  on  the  igth  of  Octo 
ber  1774.  By  reafon  of  great  bodily  infirmities 
of  long  continuance,  he  requefted  a  difmiffion, 
from  his  particular  relation  to  the  church  and 
people  of  Grafton.  to  which  they  acceded  with 
great  reluftance,  and  which  took  place  January 
ift,  1788.  No  minifter  is  fince  fettled  in  the 
place.  Mr.  Grofvenor 's  health,  being  in  a  good 
meafure  reflored,  he  is  mofl  conftantly  employed 
in  preaching  in  neighbouring  vacant  parifhes. 

Some  years  ago  there  was  an  anabaptift  focie- 
ty  and  church  eftablifhed  in  Grafton,  and  they 
had  a  regular  minifter  of  publick  education  fettled 
with  them*;  but  now  there  is  neither  minifter  nor 
church  of  that  denomination  in  the  town,  and 
very  few  anabaptift  families. 

Let  us  now  proceed  to  fome  Geographical  De- 
fcription  of  Grafton.  It  is  a  moft  excellent  town- 
fliip  of  land.  The  face  of  the  town  is  hilly  and 
uneven,  and  in  general  rocky  ;  but  the  foil  is 
moift  and  ftrong,  rich  and  very  productive  :  It  is 
good  for  Indian  corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  barley,  and 
flax  :  The  lands  are  naturally  warm  and  not  fub- 
jecl  to  frofts  ;  and  as  they  arc  high  and  rocky, 
they  are  well  adapted  to  orcharding  and  all  kinds 
of  fruit  trees.  There  are  three  noticeable  hills  in 
the  town.  The  firft  to  be  mentioned,  is  called 
Chefnut  Hill,  as  abounding  in  that  fort  of  wood. 

This 
i 


G     R    A     F    T     O     N.  169 

This  is  fituated  but  a  little  eaft  of  the  meeting- 
houfe,  and  is  the  higheft  land  in  the  town,  hiding 
Grafton  from  Weftborough  :  This  is  not  large  ; 
the  land  is  moift  and  good.  On  the  eafteiiy  fide 
of  the  town  lies  George  Hill,  two  miles  and  an  half 
in  length.  It  took  its  name  from  one  George 
Mifco,  an  Indian  who  dwelt  upon  it.  This  is  a 
hill  of  moft  excellent  land  ;  and  there  are  a  num 
ber  of  very  fine  farms  upon  it.  A  third  is  de 
nominated  Brigham  Hill,  from  a  number  of  that 
name  who  have  lived  upon  it  :  This  lies  in  the 
wefterly  part  of  the  town,  is  high,  about  two  miles 
in  length  ;  has  upon  it  feveral  excellent  and  large 
farms,  though  fome  parts  of  it  are  rough,  broken 
lands. 

The  general  growth  of  wood  is  walnut,  oak  of 
all  kinds,  chefnut,  forne  pitch  pine,  butternut,  but 
ton  wood,  black  and  white  am,  and  birch.  There  is 
fome  pine  plain  land  in  the  town  near  the  rivers, 

Blackftone  River,  from  the  north  pariih  in  Sut- 
ton,  enters  Grafton  in  the  fouthwefterly  part  of 
the  town  ;  this  is  then  become  a  large  and  beauti 
ful  river,  and  runs  about  three  miles  in  the  fouth- 
erly  part  of  Grafton,  and  then  pafles  into  Upton. 
Little  River,  or  more  properly  Quinfigamond,  be 
ing  the  outlet  from  the  pond  of  that  name,  runs 
along  on  the  weft  fide  of  the  town,  within  about 
half  a  mile  of  the  meetinghoufe,  and  between  that 
and  Brigham  Hill ;  and  about  one  mile  and  an  half 
fouth  from  the  meetinghoufe  joins  Blackftone  Riv 
er.  On  thefe  rivers,  before  and  after  the  junction, 
there  are  confiderable  bodies  of  good  meadow, 
M  and 


170  G    R    A    F    T    O    NV 

and  rich  interval  lands.  The  River  AfTabef, 
which  runs  northeaft,  and  empties  into  Merrimackr 
has  its  fourcein  Grafton,  about  one  mile  and  an- 
half  northeaft  from  the  meetingl  oufe  :  This  paffes- 
through  the  north  weft  angle  of  \V^  ft  borough,  into 
Northborough,  &c.  Befides  thefe,  on  the  weft  fide 
of  George  Hill,  runs  George  Brook,  which  nfes  in 
the  northerly  part  of  Grafton  ;  this  pafies  to  the 
fouth.  On  this  ft  ream  there  are  large  and  good 
meadows.  There  is  no  pond  in  the  town.  Upon 
the  feveral  rivers  and  dreams  abovementioned, 
there  are  four  grift  mills,  feveral  law  mills,  three 
trip  hammers,  and  one  fulling  mill.  The  town 
abounds  with  rivulets  and  fprings  of  water. 

The  people  fubfift  mainly  by  the  cultivation  of 
the  foil,  and  they  are  amply  recompenfed  for  all 
their  labour.  They  have  one  or  two  traders  in 
foreign  goods,  and  the  ufual  tradefmcn  and  me- 
chanicks  ;  and  here  pot  afh  making  is  carried  on. 
Grafton,  though  not  a  large  traft  of  land,  yet  be 
ing  a  rich  and  good  foil,  is  pretty  well  filled  with 
people,  and  they  are  become  wealthy.  There 
were  nearly  goo  inhabitants  when  the  cenfus  was 
taken  about  two  years  ago.  This  town  reaps  con- 
fiderabie  advantage  from  the  travel  through  it.  A 
road  much  ufed,  leading  from  Connecticut  to  Bof- 
ton,  paffes  through  this  town  ;  as  alfo  the  poft  road 
from  Worcefter  to  Providence.  Grafton  is  forty 
miles  from  Bofton,  to  the  fouthweft  :  It  is  thirty 
four  miles  from  Providence,  to  the  northweft,  and 
eight  from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter,  a  little  to 
the  fouth  of  eaft. 

V  P  T  O  N. 


UPTON. 

1  HIS  town  was  not  an  original  grant, 
but  taken  from  feveral  other  towns,  part  from 
Mendon  on  the  fouth,  part  from  Sutton  on  the 
weft,  and  part  from  Hopkinton  on  the  eaft.  It  is 
bounded  by  Weftborough  on  the  north.  The 
poft  road  from  Worcefler  to  Providence  paries 
through  this  place,  about  a  mile  fouthweft  of  the 
meetinghoufe.  It  was  incorporated  by  an  a 61  of 
the  Legiflature  on  the  14th  of  June,  1735,  and  con 
tains  upwards  of  13000  acres  of  land  ;  and  when 
the  cenfus  was  taken  there  were  126  dwelling 
houfes,  about  1 50  families,  and  about  900  inhab 
itants  in  the  place. 

As  no  church  records  are  to  be  found  of  what 
took  place  in  the  earlier  days  of  this  town,  fo  the 
precife  time  when  the  congregational  church  was 
formed  here  cannot  be  afcertained  ;  but  it  was 
foon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  when  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Weld  was  ordained  their  firft  paf- 
tor.  This  gentleman  continued  in  the  miniftry 
among  this  people  but  a  few  years,  being  difmiffed 
from  his  pafloral  relation  to  them  ;  and  was  af 
terwards  inflalled  at  a  parifh  in  Middleborough, 
in  the  county  of  Plymouth.  From  hence  alfo  he 
was  removed,  and  foon  after  entered  the  army,  in 
the  laft  French  war,  in  the  capacity  of  chaplain, 
where  he  died,  He  was  fucceeded  at  Upton,  in, 
M  2  the 


17*  UPTON. 

the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  by  the  Rev.  Eli- 
fha  Fifh,  who  was  folemnly  feparated  unto  this 
facred  employment  on  the  5th  of  June,  1751,  and 
who,  having  obtained  help  of  God,  ftill  continues, 
faithfully  ferving  the  Lord  in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son. 
There  is  a  confiderable  fociety  of  anabaptifts  in  this 
town,  and  has  been  for  many  years.  For  early  in  the 
year  1751  they  ordained  one  Mr.  Abraham  Blofs 
for  their  teaching  elder,  who  continued  there  but 
a  few  years  before  he  left  them  ;  after  which  the 
fociety  and  church  diflblved.  However,  a  few  in 
dividuals  remained,  who  called  themfelves  ana 
baptifts,  who  rarely  had  any  meetings  for  religious 
worlhip  among  themfelves  for  feveral  years,  but 
occafionally  attended  upon  teachers  of  that  de 
nomination  in  other  towns.  But  early  in  the 
year  1787  there  arofe  a  considerable  number,  very 
fuddenly,  who  called  themfelves  anabaptifts,  and 
ftill  remain  as  a  diftinft  fociety,  to  whom  one  el 
der  Ingalls  fiill  miniftered  ;  and  fince  they  have 
the  occafronal  inftruction  of  Mr.  Simeon  Snow 
who  has  been  ordained  at  large.  However,  there 
h  not,  fo  far  as  I  can  learn,  any  church  fo  gather 
ed  among  them  as  to  celebrate  the  Lord's  fupper 
by  them  {elves. 

In  the  town  of  Upton  there  are  alfo  a  number 
of  the  people  called  friends  or  quakers,  but  no  dif- 
tinft  fociety  of  that  denomination  is  formed  there. 

We  fhall  proceed  to  fome  Topographical  De- 
fcription  of  Upton.  Some  parts  of  the  town  are 
very  rough  and  uneven,  others  more  level.  The 
foil  is  generally  ftrong,  rich  and  good:  favourable 

for 


U       P       T       O       N.  173 

'for  orcharding,  and  fruit  of  moft  kinds,  and  for  paf- 
turage  and  grafs  ;  and  there  are  a  number  of  rivu 
lets  pafling  about  in  the  valleys,  between  the  hills, 
whereby  it  is  pretty  well  furnifhed  with  water. 
There  is  one  river,  which  has  its  fource  in  Graf- 
ton,  and  paffing  through  the  weft  part  of  Upton, 
in  a  foutherly  courfe,  known  by  the  name  of 
Weft  River  :  This  is  emptied  into  Blackftone  Riv 
er  in  the  lower  part  of  Uxbiidge.  On  this  river 
there  are  fome  good  meadows  ;  allo  mills.  A 
little  north  of  the  meetinghoufe,  there  is  a  fmall 
pond  fed  by  rivulets  and  fprings,  from  the  fouth 
end  of  which  there  iffues  a  fine  flream,  on  which 
there  is  a  corn  mill  within  a  few  rods  of  the  meet 
inghoufe,  whereby  the  inhabitants  are  greatly  ac 
commodated  and  benefited  ;  this  falls  into  Weft 
River.  The  growth  of  wood  is  fimilar  to  that  of 
other  towns  of  like  kinds  of  foil.  The  high  lands 
have  plenty  of  oak  of  the  feveral  forts  ;  confidera- 
ble  quantity  of  walnut  ;  fome  chefnut  :  The  low 
lands  have  birch,  maple,  elm,  alder,  &c.  There 
is  much  pitch  pine  in  the  place,  and  aifo  confider- 
able  white  pine  remaining  even  at  this  day.  This 
town  is  fituatcd  about  thirty  eight  miles  from  Bof- 
ton,  to  the  fouthweft  ;  and  fifteen  miles  from 
Worcefter  courthoufe,  about  foutheaft  ;  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Weft  borough  ;  on  the 
eaft,  by  Hopkinton  and  Milford  •  on  the  fouth,  by 
Mendon  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Northbridge  and 
Graf  ton. 


HARD  WICK. 


HARDWICK. 

r  OR  the  fum  of  2O/.  Newengland  cur 
rency,  John  Magus  and  Lawrence  Naffbwanno,  two 
noted  Indians,  fo  early  as  in  the  year  1686,  De 
cember  2 /th,  gave  and  figned  a  deed  of  a  large 
tracl:  of  land  to  Meffrs.  Jofhua  Lamb,  Nathaniel 
Page,  Andrew  Gardner,  Benjamin  Gamblin,  Ben 
jamin  Tucker,  John  Curtifs,  Richard  Draper,  and 
Samuel  Ruggles,  of  Roxbury.  This  tract  of  land 
included  what  is  now  Hardwick.  In  confequence 
of  the  abovementioned  deed,  the  heirs  of  thofe 
gentlemen  petitioned  the  General  Court,  and  ob 
tained  a  grant  of  this  townfhip  on  the  i  jth  of  June, 
1732.  It  was  called  Lambftown,  from  the  firft 
named  proprietor,  until  it  was  incorporated  and 
made  a  town  by  an  aft  of  the  Legiflature,  which 
bears  date  January  loth,  1738,  when  the  name  of 
Hardwick  was  given  to  it. 

This  town  contains,  according  to  its  original 
grant,  about  fix  miles  fquare,  notwithftanding  a 
part  on  the  eafterly  fide  of  the  place  was  fet  off 
more  than  forty  years  ago,  to  help  in  making  up 
the  town  of  Newbraintree.  Hardwick  is  now 
bounded  on  the  north,  by  Peterfham  and  Barre  ; 
on  the  eaft,  by  Barre,  Newbraintree  and  Ware  Riv 
er  ;  onnhe  fouth,  by  Ware  River,  and  the  town 
of  Ware,  in  the  county  of  Hampfhire  ;  and  on  the 
weft,  by  Greenwich  in  that  county. 

After 


H     A    R    D    W    I     C    K.          175 

After  the  location  of  this  grant  a  number  of  fet- 
tlers  immediately  entered  upon  the  lands,  and  oth 
ers  followed  fo  rapidly,  as  that  they  foon  had  the  gof- 
pel  preached  among  them,  and  as  early  as  November 
17th,  1736,  a  little  more  than  four  years  from  the 
date  of  the  grant,  the  church  of  Chrift  was  gather 
ed,  and  the  fame  day  the  Rev.  David  White  was 
ordained  their  firft  Paftor.  He  died  January  6th, 
1784,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  48th  of 
his  miniflry.  He  was  fucceeded  in  the  facred  of 
fice  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Holt,  who  was  feparated 
unto  that  high  and  holy  calling  on  the  25th  of 
June,  1789,  after  a  vacancy  of  five  years  and  al- 
inoft  fix  months. 

The  people  of  Hardwick,  confidering  their  num 
ber,  are  remarkably  united  in  their  fentiments  re- 
fpe&ing  religion.  There  are  a  few  antipedobap- 
tifts  in  the  place  ;  as  alfo  a  few  profeffed  univer- 
falifls. 

We  proceed  to  fome  Topographical  Defcription 
of  Hardwick.  The  town  is  of  a  good  form  and 
ftiape,  being  nearly  fquare.  The  face  of  the  town 
is  rather  rough,  hilly  and  uneven  :  Although 
there  are  no  very  great  and  remarkable  hills.  The 
foil  is,  in  general,  deep,  loamy,  and  very  fertile. 
The  lands  produce  all  kinds  of  grain  in  fufficient 
plenty  for  the  inhabitants  ;  but  they  are  bed  adap 
ted  to  grafs  and  pafturage  :  Here  vaft  quantities 
•of  butter  and  cheefe  are  made,  and  moft  excellent 
•beef  fatted  for  the  market.  All  kinds  of  fruit 
-trees  flourifli  here. 

M  4  The 


H     A     R     D     W     I     C     K. 

The  principal  growth  pf  wood  is  oak  of  all 
forts,  chefnut  and  walnut  ;  but  in  the  north  weft- 
crn  part  of  the  town,  there  is  fome  white  and  pitch 
pine.  The  land  is  generally  rocky  and  moift  ; 
and  it  is  finely  watered  in- every  part  by  fprings, 
fireams  and  rivulets,  which  run  about  in  the  val 
leys  among  the  hills  ;  but  there  are  no  ftreams  of 
note  or  diftin&ion  in  the  town,  although  they  fur- 
nifh  water  for  all  forts  of  water  works  ;  and  there 
are  within  the  town,  five  corn  mills,  four  faw  mills, 
and  two  clothiers'  works,  where  much  bufmefs  is 
performed  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  people. 

Ware  River,  which  is  large,  runs  on  the  eaft  and 
fouth  of  the  town,  and  is  the  boundary  between 
this  town  and  Newbraintree,  and  alfo  between 
H.jrdwick  and  the  town  of  Ware.  The  inter 
val  on  this  river,  in  the  eaftern  part  of  the  town, 
anay  contain  perhaps  as  much  as  two  hundred  a- 
cres  of  very  excellent  mowing  land.  On  this  riv 
er  a  furnace  was  erected  feveral  years  ago,  and 
where  much  hard  ware  has  been  manufactured ;  but 
at  prefent  there  is  no  bufinefs  done  thereat. 

There  are  two  confiderable  ponds  in  the  town  ; 
one  called  Poltapougy  in  the  northerly  part,  is  about 
tivo  miles  in  length,  and  nearly  one  third  of  a  mile 
in  breadth  ;  this  is  ftored  with  fi£h.  It  has  an  in- 
l€t  which  comes  from  Peterfham  ;  its  outlet  paffes 
through  the  northweftern  part  of  Hardwick,  and 
falls  into  Chicabee  River.  The  other,  called 
Muddy  Pond,  is  about  one  mile  in  length,  and  a- 
fcout  half  a  mile  in  width  in  the  foutherly  part. 

It 


B     O     L     T     O     N.  177 

It  has  plenty   of  good  fifli,     It  has  a  fmall  inlet  ; 
its  outlet  is  into  Ware  River. 

The  roads  of  travel  are  from  Boflon,  either 
through  Worcefter  or  Rutland,  to  Hardwick,  and 
fo  on  to  Northampton.  Another  road  from  the 
fouthweft,  with  one  from  the  foutheaft,  form  a 
junction  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  then 
paffing  northward,  through  Peterfham  into  the 
States  of  Newhampfhire  and  Vermont.  Hardwick 
is  fituated  a  little  ibuthwefb  from  Bofton,  diftant 
from  the  State  houfe  feventy  two  miles,  and  from 
the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  twenty  five  miles,  a 
little  to  the  northweft.  It  is  a  very  large,  flourifh- 
ing,  wealthy  town,  and  contained,  when  the  cenfus 
was  taken,  245  houfcs  and  1725  inhabitants  ;  and 
was  the  fifth  town  in  the  county  in  the  proportion 
it  paid  to  a  State  tax  in  1790. 


tow 

O      N 


1  HIS  town  was  taken  from  the  an 
cient  town  of  Lancafter  ;  and  was  incorporated  on 
the  24th  of  June,  1738,  by  aft  of  the  Legislature, 
when  it  received  its  prefent  name.  The  traQ:  of 
land  was  large  at  firft  :  In  the  year  1784,  the  dif- 
triclt  of  Berlin,  to  the  fouth,  was  fet  off  from  it  : 
Still  it  is  large  enough  to  make  a  very  refpe&able 
figure  among  the  towns  in  the  county.  It  contain 

ed, 


178  B    O     L     T     O     N. 

ed,  when  the  continental  cenfus  was  taken,  125 
houfes,  and  861  inhabitants.  It  is  bounded  by 
Lancafter  on  the  weft ;  by  Harvard,  on  the  north  ; 
by  Stow,  in  the  county  of  Middlefex,  on  the  eaft  ; 
by  Marlborough  on  the  foutheaft  ;  and  by  Berlin, 
on  the  fouth.  It  is  diftant  from  Bofton  about 
thirty  four  miles,  nearly  weft  ;  and  from  thecourt- 
houfe  in  Worcefter,  it  is  about  eighteen  miles,  ly 
ing  to  the  northeaft. 

The  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory  of  Bolton  is  as  fol 
lows.  :  The  church  of  Chrift  here  was  gathered  on 
the  4th  of  November,  1741  ;  on  which  day  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Gofs  was  ordained  their  firft  paftor, 
who  continued  until  January  iyth,  1780,  when  he 
died  in  the  fixty  third  year  of  his  age,  and  thirty 
ninth  of  his  miniftry.  He  was  fucceeded,  a  fhort 
fpace  of  time,  by  the  Rev.  John  Walley,  who  had 
been  before  for  feveral  years  mini  ft  er  of  a  parifti 
in  Ipfwioh.  Mr.  Walley  was  difmifled  from  Bol 
ton,  not  long  before  his  death.  He  was  fucceeded 
in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  in  this  place,  by 
the  Rev.  Phineas  Wright,  who  was  folemnly  fepa- 
ratcd  hereunto  October  26th,  1785,  and  who  ftill 
lives.  The  people  are  peaceable  and  happy,  prof- 
perous  and  flourifhing. 

In  Bolton,  and  the  diftrift  of  Berlin,  there  is  a 
fociety  of  friends,  or  quakers,  confiding  of  a  large 
number  of  raoftly  wealthy  families  ;  their  houfc 
of  worfhip  ftands  within  the  limits  of  Bolton,  neai 
to  Berlin  line. 

We  {hall  proceed  to  give  fome  Geographical 
Defcription  of  Bolton.  The  town  in  general  is 

good 


B     O     L    T     O     N.  179 

good  land,  not  level,  nor  yet  has  it  any  very  high 
hills.  The  higheft  lands  in  the  town  are  rich  and 
moift  ;  excellent  for  orcharding  and  paflure  land. 
It  is  not  very  rocky,  however,  there  are  flones  fuf- 
ficient  to  wall  in  all  their  farms.  The  people  raife 
rye,  wheat,  Indian  corn,  barley,  oats,  flax,  &c. 
&c.  upon  their  lands,  in  fuch  plenty  as  richly  to 
repay  their  labour  in  the  cultivation  thereof.  A- 
bout  half  a  mile  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  to  the 
weft,  begins  the  great  hill,  known  by  the  name  of 
Wattoquottock  Hill,  which  extends  fouthwefterly 
into  Berlin.  This  long,  large  hill,  is  not  very  high; 
it  is  in  general  very  good  land,  and  there  are  div 
ers  fine  farms  upon  it.  The  great  road  from 
Lancafter  to  Bofton  paries  over  the  north  end  of 
this  hill,  upon  its  declivity,  where  it  is  very  moift, 
conlifting  of  clay  and  loam,  fenfibly  felt  by  trav 
ellers  in  the  wet  feafons  of  the  year.  On  the  wef- 
terly  fide  of  this  hill,  about  halfway  from  its  foot 
to  the  fummit,  is  a  cavity  opening  to  the  fouth- 
weft,  parallel  with  the  main  courfe  of  the  hill, 
near  the  upper  end  of  which  is  a  pool,  or  fmall 
pond  of  water,  known  by  the  name  of  Welch 
Pond.  This  pond  is  of  a  circular  form  about 
twenty  feet  in  depth,  and  occupies  the  fpace  of  a- 
bout  one  acre  on  its  furface.  It  is  fuppofed  to  have 
diminifhed  about  one  half,  both  in  depth  and  cir 
cumference  within  forty  years  paft.  People  now 
mow  considerable  grafs,  where  they  went  with 
boats  and  canoes  half  a  century  ago.  On  the 
foutheafterly  fide  of  this  hill,  and  nearly  oppofite^ 
to  Welch  Pond,  ilfuc  a  number  of  rivulets,  which 

foon 


i8o  B     O     L     T     O    N. 

foon  unite  in  the  low  lands,  and  form  a  confidera- 
ble  brook,  taking  a  foutheafterly  courfe,  till  it 
falls  into  Aflabet  River,  in  the  northerly  part  of 
Marlborough.  This  brook  has  water  fufficient  to 
carry  two  mills,  in  the  wet  feafons  of  the  year,  at 
the  diftance  of  lefs  than  one  mile  from  the  hill. 
There  is  a  glade  of  moft  excellent  meadow  on  each 
fide  of  this  dream,  its  whole  length,  with  but  few 
fmall  interruptions,  by  hard  land.  The  higher 
parts  of  thefe  meadows,  next  the  hill,  are  known 
by  the  name  of  Wattoquottock  Meadows.  At  a 
fmall  diftance  from  the  nor thca fieri y  foo  t  of 
Wattoquottock,  begins  another  large  hill,  with  a 
gradual  afcent,  which  extends  northeafterly 
through  Harvard  into  the  boundaries  of  Lyttleton, 
in  the  county  of  Middlefex.  By  fome,  this  is  call 
ed  Bear  Hill,  by  others  Oak  Hill.  This  hill  has 
been  thought  to  contain  mines  and  minerals,  and 
has,  confequcntly,  for  a  number  of  years  engaged 
the  attention  of  a  refpe&able  fociety  of  minefeek- 
crs  ;  but  their  expectations  have  far  exceeded  their 
gains  :  For  though  its  bowels  have  been  explored 
with  much  painful  labour,  and  fanguine  hope,  yet 
the  mountain  has  not  even  to  this  day  brought 
forth  a  moufe.  At  the  interfeclion,  between  this 
laft  mentioned  hill  and  Wattoquottock,  is  a  nar 
row  bar  of  hard  land,  about  6fteen  rods  in  width ; 
and  on  each  fide  of  this  bar,  is  a  fmall  piece  of 
low,  funken,  boggy  ground,  in  which  arifc  fcveral 
fprings,  foon  forming  a  rivulet  each  way.  That 
on  the  northweftly  fide,  runs  a  northerly  courfe,  a- 
bout  a  mile  and  an  half,  with  a  continual  incrcafe  of 

waters, 


B     O     L    T     O     N. 

waters,    and  empties  into  Still  River,   fo   called, 
within  the  boundaries  of   Lancafter.     The  rivulet 
on  the  foutheafterly  fide  runs  an  eafterly  courfe  ; 
the  waters  of  which  being  augmented  by  fmall  ad 
ditions,    become   fufficient  to    carry  mills,  where 
much  bufmefs  is  done,  at  the  diftance  of  two  miles 
from  their  fource,    except  in  the  fummer  months, 
and  they  are  emptied  into  the  river  Aifabet,  about 
two    miles    foutheafl    from    Stow   meetingheufe ; 
previous  to   which,  however,   the  road  to  Bofton, 
cro fifes  this  ftream  three  times.     On  this  brook  are 
feveral  bodies  of  meadow,  but  not  equal  in  good- 
nefs  to  thofe  beforementioned.   In  the  northeafter- 
ly  part  of  Bolton,  about  two  miles  and  an  half  from 
the  centre  of  the  town,  is  fituated  the  large  and  ex- 
tenfive  hill,  called  Rattle  Snake  Hill,  belonging  to 
the  heirs  of  the  late  Gen.  John  Whetcomb.     In 
the  fouth  fide  of  this  hill  is  a  body  of  limeftone  ; 
and  here  are  annually   made  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  hogftieads  of  the  very  beft  of  lime.     In 
the  eafterly  part  of  the  town  is  a  large  hill,  known 
by  the  name  of  Long   Hill.     It  lies  clofe  on  the 
fouth  fide   of,    and  runs  parallel  with  the  great 
road,  about  one  mile  and  an   half,   to  Stow   line, 
with  a  gradual  afcent  to  the  fouth  of  about  half  a 
mile  to  its  fummit.     There  are  two  fmall   ponds, 
of  a  circular  form,  at  the  diftance   of  about  eighty 
rods  from  each  other,    in  the  eafterly  part  of  the 
town,  fuppofed  to  cover,  one  about  forty,  and  the 
other  about  thirty  acres  of  ground.     The  largeft 
of  thefe  lies  near  the  welt  end  of  Long  Hill,  in 
fight  of  the  great  road,  and  known  by  the  name  of 

Weft's 


i8a  B     O     L    T    O    N, 

Weft's  Pond,  from  a  perfon  of  that  name  formerly 
living  on  its  more.  In  the  northweft  angle  of  Bol- 
ton,  mainly,  is  fituated  a  large  body  of  almoft  ftag- 
nant  water,  and  therefore  called  Still  River,  but 
might  be  more  properly  denominated  a  lake,  or 
very  long  pond.  It  is  various  in  its  width  and 
depth.  It  begins  within  the  boundaries  of  Lan- 
cafter,  in  the  great  intervals  (about  twenty  rods  eaft 
of  the.  great  bridge  over  the  Namaway.  after  the 
jun&ion  of  its  two  branches)  and  proceeds  in  a 
circular  courfe,  upwards  of  three  miles,  acrofs  the 
northweft  corner  of  Bolton,  into  Harvard,  from  the 
Horth  end  of  which  there  is  a  very  fmall  outlet  in 
to  the  river  Namaway.  On  the  fouth  fide  of  this 
lake,  and  between  this  and  the  river  NaQiaway,  is 
a  very  large  body  of  moft  excellent  interval  land, 
part  of  which  is  within  the  limits  of  Bolton,  ufed 
for  tillage,  mowing  and  pafturing  :  And  which  is 
often  laid  feveral  feet  under  water  by  fpring  and 
fall  floods,  prefenting  the  appearance  of  a  fmall  fea. 
Various  are  the  conjectures  of  people  refpefting 
Still  River,  Lake,  or  Long  Pond,  above  mentioned. 
Some  fuppofe  the  bed  of  the  fouth  branch  of  Nafh- 
away  once  was  here,  and  that  by  fome  great  fremet 
it  was  cut  off  above,  formed  a  new  channel,  and 
joined  the  north  branch  the  fooner,  where  the 
junction  now  is.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain 
thefe  branches  have  fhifted  their  beds,  in  various 
places,  and  of  confiderable  lengths,  in  the  revolu 
tion  of  ages.  There  are  feveral  rivulets  fall  into 
this  lake  on  its  eafterly  fide  ;  but  there  is  no  in 
let  at  its  upper  end,  except  what  appears  to  rife 

direftly 


B     O     L     T     O     N.  183 

dire&ly  out  of  the  ground  ;  and  the  great  proba 
bility  is,  that  a  flream,  which  begins  in  Bolton, 
feeds  this  Lake  by  a  fubterraneous  paflTage  ;  for 
while  this  ftream  is  conftant,  brifk  and  lively,  for 
half  a  mile,  coming  to  a  fpot  of  pine,  fandy  knd, 
it  difappears,  and  no  water  is  difcernible  for  near 
two  miles.  There  is  a  fmall  inlet  into  this  lake  on 
the  eaftern  part  of  Lancafter  intervals,  in  wet  fea- 
fpns,  but  in  the  fummer  no  water  runs  in  this, 
and  yet  the  lake  appears  no  way  to  be  affected 
thereby. 

Let  us  leave  this  lake,  and  finim  our  Defcrip- 
tion  of  Bolton. 

There  are  two  pot  am  works  in  this  place,  and  one 
of  pearl  am.  Here  are  two  famous  brickyards  where 
above  two  hundred  thoufands  of  bricks  are  annual 
ly  made.  The  town  is  very  well  wooded.  On, 
the  high  lands  there  is  plenty  of  walnut,  chefnut, 
and  oak  of  all  forts  :  And  here  vaft  numbers  of 
barrels  and  hogfheads  are  manufactured  yearly  ; 
and  great  quantities  of  hoops  are  carried  to  market. 
In  the  low  lands  there  is  much  maple,  but  little 
aih,  fome  birch.  There  are  fome  plains  covered 
with  pitch  pine,  very  little  white  pine. 

Upon  the  whole,  this  is  a  town  of  rich,  ftrong 
and  good  land,  and  the  people  are  increafmg  in 
number  wealth  and  reputation.  They  are  now 
building  a  large  elegant  meetinghoufe,  upon  the 
modern  conftru&ion,  with  a  fteeple  to  it,  to  which 
Mefl'rs.  Jofiiua  and  James  Richardfon,  formerly  of 
Bofton,  have  generoufly  contributed  ioo/.  and 
bought  their  pews,  as  others,  at  vendue,  but  upon 

this 


184  S  T  U  R  B  R  I  D  G  E. 

this  condition,  that  they  fhould  not  be  taxed  to 
the  building  faid  houfe.  The  pews  will  pay  for 
the  houfc.  The  underpinning  of  this  meeting- 
houfe  is  very  beautiful,  and  equal  to  any  in  the 
county,  if  not  in  the  whole  State.  It  is  a  white 
and  free  (lone,  eafily  fplit  into  any  fize,  and  was 
difcovered  juil  when  wanted. 


STURBRIDGE. 

I  HIS  is  ftyled  in  the  aft  for  creeling 
the  county  of  Worcefter,  "  The  land  lately  grant 
ed  to  feveral  petitioners  of  Medfield,"  and  many 
of  the  firft  fettlers  here  were  from  the  town  of  Med 
field,  and  hence  the  place  was  called  Newmedfield, 
until  its  incorporation,  which  was,  by  an  aft  of 
Court,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1738,  when  it  received 
the  name  Sturbridge. 

This  town  is  large  in  its  dimenfions,  containing 
by  actual  furvey,  about  28929  acres.  It  is  fituat- 
ed  in  the  fouthwefl  corner  of  the  county,  and  is 
divided  from  Woodftock  and  Union,  on  the  fouth, 
in  the  ftate  of  Connecticut,  by  the  ftate  line  ;  and 
bounded  weft,  on  Holland  and  Brimfield,  in  the 
county  of  Hampshire  ;  on  the  north,  by  Brook- 
field  ;  and  on  the  eafl,  by  Charlton  and  Dudley. 
The  gratit  of  this  tracl;  was  made  in  the  year  1729, 
in  the  month  of  Augiift.  but  it  was  thought  fcarce- 


STURBR1BGE.  185 

Jy  habitable  by  reafon  of  its  broken  rough  ftate  ; 
and  the  foil,  for  the  mofl  part,  requiring  hard  ancj. 
great  labour  to  render  it  produ&ive ;  but  the  firft 
fettlers  being  a  robuft,  refolute,  fober  and  induf- 
trjous  fet  of  men,  were  determined  to  get  an  hon- 
eft  living,  by  "  the  fweat  of  their  faces,"  and, 
through  the  bleffing  of  God,  they  foon  converted 
this  wildernefs  into  a  fruitful  field.  The  original 
proprietors  built  a  houfe  for  the  worfhip  of  God, 
which  was  raifed  on  the  2Oth  and  21  ft  days  of 
June,  1733,  and  on  the  3d  of  September  following 
it  was  confecrated  by  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Baxter  of 
Medfield,  who  preached  fromlfaiahlxiii,  and  5th. 
From  that  time  the  place  increafed  fail  in  the 
number  of  goad  and  induftrious  people,  who  very 
quickly  obtained  to  live  comfortably  ;  and  like 
others  of  that  age,  early  fought  for  a  teacher  of 
piety  and  morality.  On  the  agth  of  September, 
1736,  the  Rev.  Caleb  Rice  was  ordained  to  the 
paftoral  office  over  the  church  and  flock  of  God 
in  the  place.  He  was  a  paftor  after  God's  heart  ; 
found  in  faith  ;  a  good  preacher,  endued  with  ex 
cellent  minifterial  gifts,  and  very  exemplary  in 
life,  as  well  as  focial  and  benevolent  in  his  deport 
ment.  He  lived  in  great  harmony  with  his  peo 
ple,  in  the  fore  part  of  his  miniftry  :  But  about 
the  year  1747,  a  number  of  the  brethren  and  in 
habitants,  conceiving  they  had  received  new  light, 
different  from  what  was  common  among  their 
neighbours,  feparated  from  him,  which  rendered 
his  work  more  arduous,  and  his  life  uncomforta 
ble.  ;From  feparatifts  they  became  anabaptifts : 
N  But 


i86  $  T  U  R  B  R  I  D  G  E. 

But  it  pleafed  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  to  re 
move  Mr.  Rice  from  his  labours,  by  death,  on  the 
fecond  of  September,  1 759,  whofe  praife  was  then 
through  all  the  churches,  and  his  memory  is  ftill 
dear  to  many.  He  was  fucceeded  in  the  work  of 
the  gofpel  miniftry,  in  the  congregational  church 
and  fociety  in  Sturbridge,  by  the  Rev.  Jofhua 
Paine,  who  was  feparated  hereunto  on  the  lythof 
June,  1761,  and  ftill  continues  the  faithful  and 
beloved  paftor  thereof.  The  people  here  have 
furprifmgly  flourifhed  and  increafed  ;  for  there 
are  now  about  1800  fouls  in  the  place.  The  con 
gregational  church  is  large,  confifting  of  about 
150  members  of  both  fexes.  On  the  zgth  and 
3Oth  days  of  June,  1785,  they  raifed  a  large  new 
meetinghoufe,  which  is  elegant  and  well  finifhed  ; 
in  which  the  firft  fermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Paine  on  January  7th,  1786,  from  firft 
of  Kings,  viii.  27. 

There  is  in  the  town  a  very  refpeftable  fociety 
of  anabaptifts,  comprifing  about  one  fifth  part  of 
the  inhabitants.  Thefe  alfo  have  built  them  late 
ly  a  handfome  meetinghoufe.  As  great  peace  and 
harmony  fubfift  between  the  two  focieties,  as  can 
well  be  expefted  under  fuch  circumftances  :  Differ 
ence  of  fentiments,  as  to  modes  and  rites  of  religion, 
fcarcely  injures  good  neighbourhood  ;  nor  does  it 
prevent  their  mixing  in  families,  or  friendly  focial 
circles. 

The  inhabitants  at  prefent   are  induftrious  and 
frugal,  charitable,  and  given  to  hofpitality.     The 
great  precepts  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  moral  vir 
tue, 


$  T  U  R  B  R  I  D  G  E.  187 

tue,  and  the  inftru&ion  of  their  youth,  they  make 
their  fludy  and  care.     They  live  in  peace  and  love. 

However  hilly,  rough  and  uneven  the  town  was 
at  firft,  yet,  by  induftry  and  frugality,  the  people 
are  become  wealthy,  fubfifting  chiefly  by  the  cul 
tivation  of  the  earth.  By  hard  labour  the  foil  is 
become  fruitful.  It  is  good  for  orcharding  and 
grazing.  Much  butter  and  cheefe  are  made  here, 
efpecially  the  former,  which  has  obtained  high 
credit  in  the  markets.  The  land  is  pretty  good  for 
grain.  The  growth  of  wood  is  fimilar  to  that  of  the 
towns  in  the  vicinity,  oak  of  all  forts,  walnut, 
chefnut,  pine  in  confiderable  plenty,  efpecially  in 
its  earlier  days  ;  am,  beech,  birch,  maple,  elm,  &c. 

The  town  is  in  general  well  watered  by  fprings, 
brooks,  rivers  and  ponds.  The  River  Quinebaug, 
which  has  its  fource  in  Brimfield,  runs  through 
this  town  near  the  centre,  from  weft  to  eaft.  On 
this  there  are  large  bodies  of  good  interval,  and 
valuable  meadow  lands.  There  are  valuable 
ponds  in  the  town,  well  ftored  with  the  ufual 
forts  of  frefh  water  fifh. 

Near  one  of  thefe  ponds,  called  Lead  Mine 
Pond,  a  number  of  adventurers  from  Europe, 
fome  years  paft,  dug  deep  for  ore.  A  confiderable 
quantity  of  which  they  carried  with  them  to  Eng 
land  ;  but  they  have  never  returned  to  their  purfuit. 

Sturbridge  is  fitua^ed  at  the  fouthweft  angle  of 
the  county,  on  the  ftate  line,  about  twenty  miles 
from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  ;  and  it  is  fixty 
five  miles  from  Bofton,  and  confiderably  to  the 
fouth  of  weft, 

N  a  HOLPEN* 


HOLDER 

rtAl 

A  HE  town  of  Holden  was  taken  whol- 
fyfrom  the  town  of  Worcefter,  being  included  in, 
their  original  grants  ;  and  was  the  norlhwefterly 
part  thereof. 

It  was  incorporated  on  the  pth  of  January,  1740, 
when  the  name  of  Holden  was  given  to  it  to  perpet 
uate  the  name  and  deeds  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Hol 
den,  Efq;  one  of  the  dire&ors  of  the  Bank  of  Eng 
land  ;  and  of  his  lady  and  their  amiable  daugh 
ters,  who  had  been  great  and  generous  benefac 
tors  to  the  literary  and  religious  interefts  of  this 
country. 

This  worthy,  benevolent  man,  tranfmitted  to 
Newengland  for  charitable  purpofes,  in  books  and 
bills  of  exchange,  to  the  amount  of  4847^  Neweng 
land  currency.  After  his  deceafe,  Mrs.  Holden 
and  daughters  fent  over  in  value,  5585/.  for  the 
fame  noble  and  pious  ufes.  With  part  of  this 
latter  fum  H^-den'C/nzpd,  in  the  Univeruty  of  Cam 
bridge,  in  Mailachufetts,  was  creeled  in  the  year 
1745.  There  !a re  nineteen  volumes,  chiefly  ofta- 
vos,  in  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Avery,  given 
by  Mrs.  Kolden  and  her  daughters,  to  the  minif- 
ter  of  Holden,  and  his  fucceffors.  This  town  was 
laid  to  be  laid  out  fix  miles  fqaare,  but  it  confider- 
ably  exceeds  that  :  From  eaft  to  weft  it  is  about 
fcven  miles  acrofs  :  From  the  fouth  point  at  Lei« 

cefter 


D 


it  is  ten  miles.  It  is  bounded  northerly, 
on  Princeton  and  Sterling  ;  eafterly,  on  Worcef- 
ter  and  Boylfton  ;  foutherly,  on  Worcefter,  Lei- 
cefter  and  Paxton,  and  wefterly  on  Rutland  and 
Paxton.  We  fhall  next  prefent  the  reader  with  the 
Eccleliaftical  Hiftory  of  Holden. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  this  place  was  formed 
on  the  22d  of  December,  1742,  and  on  the  fame 
day  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Davis  was  ordained  their  firft 
paftor.  He  was  difmiffed  from  his  paftoral  rela 
tion  to  that  people  October  i8th,  1772.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  employed  in  preaching  the 
gofpel  in  various  places  ;  and  on  Wednefday  the 
2d  day  of  January,  1793,  he  preached  a  fpecial 
lecture  to  the  people  of  Holden,  as  .on  that  day 
half  a  century,  from  the  imbodying  the  church  and 
his  ordination,  expired.*  Mr.  Davis  was  fucceed- 
«d  in  the  facred  office  at  Holden,  by  the  Rev.  Jo 
feph  Avery,  who  was  publickly  feparated  thereun 
to  December  21  ft,  1774,  and  fl.il!  continues  in  the 
miniftry  there. 

We  go  on  to  a  Geographical  Defcription  of  the 
town  of  Holden.  The  foil  of  this  town  is  fome- 
what  various,  yet  in  general  of  a  loamy  kind  :  The 
land  in  the  outflcirts  of  the  town  is  the  moft 
fpringy  and  natural  to  grafs.  The  general  pro 
duce  is  rye,  Indian  corn,  fprin-g  wheat  and  oats. 
Some  farms  produce  good  barley.  Flax  is  raifed 
with  various  fuccefs  ;  when  there  is  a  failure  of  a 
crop,  it  is  generally  owing  to  other  caufes  than 
the  nature  of  the  foil.  Though  the  town  is  rather 
hilly  and  uneven,  yet  not  very  much  fo.  Such 
N  3  land 

*  The  difcourfe  was  printed, 


190  H     O     L    D    E    N. 

land  is  generally  good  for  fruit ;  and,  according 
ly,  here  are  very  large  and  valuable  orchards  in 
deed,  but  they  are  chiefly  at  a  confiderable  dif« 
tance  from  the  centre  of  the  town  ;  the  middle  not 
being  fo  fruitful,  and  more  expofed  to  deftru&ive 
frofts.  There  is  a  brickyard  two  miles  and  an 
half  northeaft  of  the  meetinghoufe,  where  are  made 
annually  about  fixty  thoufands  of  bricks.  The 
elay  is  very  ftrong  and  good.  There  are  two  pot- 
afli  works  about  three  miles  eaft  of  the  meetinghoufe, 
one  of  them  lately  erefted.  The  growth  of  wood  in 
Holden  is  mainly  chefnut  and  oak  of  all  kinds. 
In  former  years  there  was  a  great  quantity  of  ex 
cellent  white  pine  timber,  but  the  moft  of  it  has 
been  cut  off.  There  ftill  remains,  chiefly  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  town,  confiderable  yellow 
pine.  There  are  other  kinds  of  wood  in  various 
parts  of  the  town.  Some  walnut,  hemlock,  horn 
beam,  white  maple,  am,  and  fome  valuable  rock- 
maple. 

At  the  northweft  part  of  the  town  there  is  a 
Pond  called  Quinepoxet,  the  greater  part  of  which 
is  in  Princeton  :  A  narrow  fordable  ftrait  of  wa 
ter  i flues  from  this  into  a  lefler  pond,  perhaps  fif 
ty  rods  in  length ;  from  this  there  is  an  outlet  in 
to  a  fecond  pond  ;  from  this  fecond  an  outlet  into 
a  third  ;  and  from  the  third,  into  a  fourth  pond. 
Thefe  lefler  ponds  are  in  Holden  ;  and  from  them 
proceeds  a  river  called  Quinepoxet,  which  holds 
an  eafterly  courfe,  and  pafles  out  of  Holden  into 
Boylfton,  where,  quite  on  the  weft  fide  of  that 
town,  it  joins  Still  River  which  comes  from  the  foot 

of 


HOLDEN.  191 

of  Watchufett  Hill,  and  from  thence   takes    the 
name  of  the  fouth  branch  of  the   River  Naftiaway. 
Juft  below  the  abovementioned  ponds  in  Holden, 
and  on  this  River  Quinepoxet,   ftands   a  fine   faw 
mill.     There  is  another  pond  about  two  miles  and 
three  quarters  northeaft  of  the  centre  of  the  town, 
called  Lily  Pond,  which  has  neither  inlet  nor  out 
let.     There  is  a  fine  ftream  coming  from  the  weft 
and  fouth  weft  parts  of  the  town,  part  of  which  is 
derived  from  Afnebumfkit   Pond  in  Paxton,  and 
eroding  the  main   road   leading  to  Rutland,  one 
mile    and    an    half  weft    of    the  meetinghoufe, 
joins  Quinepoxet  River  about  that  diftance  north 
of  it.     On  this  ftream  are  three  faw  mills  and  two 
grift   mills.     Another   ftream,  which  has  its  rife 
mainly,  a  mile  and  upwards  fouth  of  the  centre  of 
the  town,  takes  a  circuitous  courfe,  croffes  the  great 
road  about  two,  miles  eaft  of  the  meetinghoufe,  and 
falls  into  Quinepoxet  about  two  miles  northeaft  of 
faid  houfe.     It  was  formerly  called  Cedar  Brook. 
On  this  are   two  faw,  and  two  grift  mills.     On  a 
branch  which  enters  it,  and  about  two  miles  fouth- 
eaft  of  the  middle  of  the  town,  ftands  another  faw 
mill.     In  the  fouth  part  of  the  town  rifes  a  ftream 
which  holds  a  foutheafterly  courfe,    and    pafies 
into  Worcefter,  called  Turkey  Brook.     On  this 
there  is  a  faw  mill,   and  alfo  a  grift  mill.     There 
are  no  extenfive  intervals  in  Holden  ;  but  yet,  in 
feveral  parts  of  the  town,  there  are  farms  whofe 
value  is    much    enhanced   by    the  meadows    and 
pieces  of  interval   which  lie  on    the  river   and 
ftitarns  mentioned  above. 

N  4  About 


About  three  miles  northeaft  from  the  centre  of 
the  town  is  fituated  Maiden  Hill,  where  there  is  a 
large  quarry  of  mod  excellent  ftone  for  under 
pinning,  &c.  and  which  may  be  wrought  into  any 
form,  although  they  do  not  hew  very  eafy.  In  the 
weft  part  of  the  town  is  a  hill  called  Pine  Hill.  In 
the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town  the  foot  of  the  fa 
mous  Afnebwnjkit  Hill,  which  is  moftly  in  Paxton, 
falls  within  Holden  limits  ;  and  eaft  of  this,  and 
flretching  foutheaft  and  north  weft,  lies  Stone  Houft 
Hill,  fo  called,  whofe  fides  in  fome  places  are  ve 
ry  fteep,  and  exhibit  horrid  cliffs  of  rocks,  no 
ticeable  for  affording  dens  for  rattlefnakes  ;  they 
are  however,  moftly  deftroyed,  and  rarely  feen  at 
this  day.  Winter  hill  lies  in  the  foutheaft  part  of 
the  town,  and  is  partly  in  Worcefter. 

This  town  is  large,  increafing  in  number  and 
wealth,  and  when  the  cenfus  was  taken  contained 
1080  fouls.  It  is  fifty  one  miles  from  Bofton,  nearly 
weft,  and  feven  miles  from  Worcefter  courthoufe,  to 
the  northweft  .  It  has  one  large  road  running  through 
it,  from  Bofton  to  Connecticut  river,  Vermont,  &c. 


LEOMINSTER. 

1  HIS  town  was  taken  from  Lancafter, 
and  was  part  of  what  was  called  Lancafter  new 
grant.  It  was  incorporated  On  the  g$d  of  June, 


L  E  O  M  I  N  S  T  E  R,  195 

The  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory  of  Leominfter  is  as 
follows.      The  church  here  was  imbodied  on  the 
14th  of  September,   1743  :  And   on  the  fame  day 
the   Rev.  John  Rogers  was  ordained  their   paftor. 
He  was  a  fenfible,  worthy  man,  and  ufed  his    nat 
ural  right  to  examine,  think  and  believe,  for  him- 
felf.     And  what  he  thought  to  be  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jefus,  that  he  preached  to  his  people ;  always 
appearing  to   a 61  uprightly    and  confcientioufly* 
However,  a  number  of  the  church  and  people,  ap^ 
prehending  Mr.  Rogers   delivered   doctrines  con 
trary  to  the  gofpel,  called  in  a  large   council  for 
advice  in  July  1757,  confiding  of  fifteen  churches. 
The  council  judged   the  brethren  had  reafons  for 
diffatisfa&ion,  but  advifed  them  to  attend  on  Mr. 
Rogers's  miniftry  for  three  months,  and  if  he  did 
not  retract  his  errors,  as  they  called  them,  in  that 
time,  then  they  advifed  the  church  to  difmifs  him  ; 
which  they  accordingly  did,  and  ftiut  him  out  of 
the  meetinghoufe.     Upon  this  Mr.  Rogers  preach 
ed  to  fuch  as  were  difpofed  to  attend  on  his  minif 
try,  in  his  own  houfe.    At  length  Mr.  Rogers  fued 
the  town  for  his  falary  :  And  after  a  long   conteft 
in  the  law,   the  difpute  was  compromifed  in  this 
manner,  viz.   Mr.  Rogers   relinquifhed  all  claims 
upon   the  town  as  their  minifter  ;  the  town  to  pay- 
to  Mr.  Rogers  whatever  fums  of  money  his  adher 
ents  had  been   obliged  to   pay  towards   fupplying 
the  pulpit  after  he  had  been  fhut  out  of  it  ;  and, 
finally,  that  all  who   wiihed  to  have    Mr.  Rogers 
for  their  minifler,   mould  be  made  a  poll  parifh  ; 
about  a  fifth  part  of  the  town  were  accordingly 

made 


L  E  O  M  I  N  S  T  E  R. 

made  a  diflinft,  but  poll  parifli,  by  an  aft  of  the 
Legislature  ;  after  this  fettlement  of  their  unhappy 
controverfy,  the  church  and  town  proceeded  to  the 
choice  of  a  minifter.  and  on  the  22d  of  December, 
1762,  the  Rev.  Francis  Gardner  was  ordained  their 
fecond  paftor  ;  in  whofe  minifterial  labours  the 
people  have  been  very  happy  for  more  than  thirty 
years  already  ;  and  during  this  period  they  have 
been  peaceable  and  profperous.  And  when  the 
town,  a  few  years  fince,  erected  a  large  and  elegant 
new  meetinghoufe,  Mr.  Rogers's  adherents  con 
tributed  their  full  proportion  to  the  building  of  it. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  having  obtained  help  of 
God,  continued  to  preach  and  adminifter  fpccial 
ordinances  to  the  people  of  his  parifli  until  the 
year  1788,  when,  finding  his  age  and  bodily  in 
firmities  fo  great,  he  wilhed  to  be  excufed  from  the 
facred  labours,  to  which  his  people  confented,  and 
generoufly  paid  him  three  years  {alary  in  advance  : 
Whereupon,  by  an  a&  of  the  Legiflature,  this  poll 
parifh  was  diffolved,  and  the  whole  town  now 
form  but  one  church  and  congregation  under  the 
miniftry  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  lived  but  a  little  while 
after  he  ceafed  from  his  publick  labours.  He  de 
parted  this  life  October,  1789,  in  the  47th  year  of 
his  miniftry. 

.  Let  it  now  be  obferved,  there  was  no  way  to  avoid 
giving  this  particular  detail,  and  yet  mention  the 
two  religious  focietics  which  for  a  time  fubfifted 
in  Leominfler.  Our  plan,  truth,  and  impartial 
juftice,  required  the  mention  of  them.  And 

nothing 


L  E  O  M  I  N  S  T  E  R.  195 

nothing  derogatory  of  any  one  has  beenfaid.  Nay, 
the  defign  has  been  to  pay  tribute  due  to  worthy 
characters,  to  Mr.  Rogers  and  Mr.  Gardner,  and 
to  the  people,  who  once  were  two  parties  and  fo- 
cieties.  The  majority  of  the  church  and  town  dif- 
niiffed  Mr.  Rogers,  that  the  truth  and  purity  of 
the  gofpel,  as  they  thought,  might  continue  with 
them.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Rogers  fuppofed  him 
to  be  a  good  and  faithful  minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift ; 
and  therefore  adhered  to  him  to  the  laft  ;  and 
treated  him  with  all  poffible  refpeft,  kindnefs  and 
generofity,  until  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  was 
pleafed  to  remove  him  from  this  world.  And  now 
he  is  gone  to  be  here  no  more,  we  find  the  two 
Societies  cordially  receiving  and  embracing  each 
other,  and  cheerfully  attending  upon  and  fup- 
porting  one  and  the  fame  minifter,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gardner.  The  moral  character  of  Mr.  Rogers 
was  never  impeached.  Had  he  lived  in  the  prefent 
day,  perhaps  fuch  a  controverfy  would  never  have 
been  heard  of.  We  have  feen  in  Mr.  Rogers  a 
uniform  character,  and  an  honeft  upright  man, 
whofe  integrity,  and  firm  attachment  to  what  he 
thought  were  important  truths,  were  fuperior  to 
the  trials  he  met  with,  and  by  which  perfons  of 
more  eafy  virtue  might  have  been  overcome. 

Some  Geographical  Defcription  of  the  town  of 
Leominfter  (hall  here  be  prefented  to  the  reader. 
Leominiler  contains  about  as  much  as  five  miles 
fquare,  and  is  fituated  in  the  northeaftly  quarter 
of  the  county,  and  is  diftant  about  nineteen  miles 
from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  ;  and  from  Bof- 

ton, 


196  L  E  O  M  I  N  S  T  E  R, 

ton,  it  is  a  little  to  the  northweft,  at  the  diftanceof 
fifty  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  north- 
eaft,  by  Fitchburg  and  Lunenburg  ;  on  the  eaft, 
foutheaft  and  fouth,  by  Lancafter  ;  and  on  the 
fouthweft  and  weft,  by  Sterling,  and  a  gore  of 
land.  This  town  is  pretty  plain  and  level  in  the 
middle  of  it,  and  for  a  mile  and  a  half  or  two 
miles  round  the  meetinghoufe,  and  indeed  all  tha 
way  fouth  of  the  meetinghoufe  towards  Lancafter ; 
to  the  north,  towards  Fitchburg,  it  is  not  quite  fo 
level ;  yet  the  land  is  pretty  good,  and  the  foil  is 
clayey  :  Upon  the  eaft,  and  efpecially  on  the  weft, 
the  land  becomes  hilly  and  more  uneven,  and  the 
land  is  proportionably  better.  The  farms  in  th<t 
middle  of  the  town,  are  by  no  means  poor  ;  but 
thofeinthe  fkirts  of  the  town  are  very  excellent  in 
deed  ;  and  the  land  is  equal  to  that  in  any  town. 
The  land  is  well  adapted  to  all  kinds  of  grain,  and 
the  hilly  parts  to  grafs  and  pafturage  ;  and  the 
town  abounds  with  famous  orchards,  and  all  kinds 
of  fruit,  and  much  cyder  is  made  in  the  place. 
The  land  is  not  very  ftony  and  rocky  in  general,  ex 
cept  it  be  fome  particular  part  of  fome  of  the  hills. 
Of  thefe  none  are  famous  or  worthy  of  particular 
notice,  except  one  in  the  wcfterly  part  of  the  town, 
called  Wauhnoofnook  Hill  ;  this  is  about  two 
ioiles  in  length,  and  a  mile  or  more  from  the 
orjeetinghoufe  in  the  ncareft  place  :  It  is  pretty 
high  and  fteep  :  And  although  there  is  fome  brok 
en  and  unimproveable  land  upon  it,  yet  there  axe 
many  very  fine  farms  thereon.  This  hill  is  famous 
for  affording  vaft  quantities  of  mod  excellent 

ftone, 


JL  E  O  M  I  N  S  T  E  R» 

ftone,  of  a  grayifh  colour,  pretty  free,  and  eafily 
fplit  and  wrought,  and  fome  have  natural  faces, 
fixteen,  eighteen  and  twenty  feet  in  length.  This 
flore  is  perhaps  inexhauftible.  In  the  fouth  part 
of  the  town  there  is  a  very  large  body  of  plain 
land  covered  with  pitch  pine  ;  and  there  is  con- 
fiderable  white  pine  within  the  town  :  But  the 
main  growth  of  wood  confifts  of  oak  of  all  kinds, 
chefnut  in  plenty,  much  walnut,  elrn,  butternut, 
lhagbark,  &c.  &c. 

The  town  is  very  well  watered  in  every  part,  by 
numerous  fprings  and  rivulets.  There  are  two 
ftreams  which  claim  a  particular  mention  :  One 
is  Wauhnoofnook  Brook,  fo  called  from  the  hill 
of  that  name,  as  it  originates  at  the  foot  of  this 
hill,  at  the  north  end,  and  runs  all  along  on  the 
eaft  fide  of  the  hill,  and  on  the  weflerly  fide  of 
the  town,  and  finally  falls  into  the  river  Namaway. 
The  other  is  the  north  branch  of  the  river  Nafha 
way,  which  coming  in  from  Fitchburg,  at  the 
northwefl  angle  of  the  town,  runs  about  a  mile 
eaft  of  the  meetinghoufe,  and  at  the  foutheafl  angle 
of  this  town  pafles  into  Lancafter.  There  is  fome 
good  interval  land  on  this  river,  but  in  many  places 
the  banks  of  it  are  high  and  very  fteep.  There  is 
but  very  little  meadow  land  in  the  town.  On  this 
liver  and  the  ftreams  there  are  two  grift  mills,  five 
faw  mills,  one  oil  mill,  and  clothiers'  works  very 
excellent,  There  are  only  a  part  of  two  ponds 
fall  within  the  limits  of  this  town,  and  thefe  were 
mentioned  in  giving  an  account  of  Lunenburg. 

It 


ig8 

It  has  been  mentioned  before  that  the  foil  of  this 
town  is  clayey.  There  are  indeed  vaft  bodies  of 
the  beft  of  clay  in  the  town  :  And  upwards  of  two 
hundred  thoufands  of  bricks  are  made  here  in  a 
year.  Thefe  bricks  are  faid  to  endure  the  fire 
longer  than  any  made  in  the  county.  The  people 
of  Leominfler  live  moftly  by  the  cultivation  of 
the  earth  ;  and  their  farms  and  buildings  proclaim 
their  induftry,  and  indicate  a  good  degree  of 
wealth.  They  have  all  the  mechanicks  and  traded 
men  in  common  with  other  places.  And  befides, 
the  manufacturing  of  combs  is  here  eftablifhed, 
in  two  or  three  places,  and  the  work  is  carried  on 
to  great  perfection  and  profit.  About  twenty  per- 
fons  work,  more  or  lefs  at  this  trade  ;  about  ten 
are  conftantly  employed  therein,  and  they  manu 
facture  about  fix  thoufand  dozen  in  a  year.  Mr. 
Jotham  Johnfon,  a  trader  here,  employs  five  men 
in  this  work,  who  make  twenty  five  hundred  doz 
en  p^r  annum.  Among  thefe,  is  one  who  makes 
ivory  combs,  equally  good  perhaps,  as  any  im 
ported  from  any  country.  Here  are  feveral  ftores 
and  fhops  filled  with  European,  Eaft,  and  Weft- 
india  goods.  There  is  much  travel  through  this 
town,  from  the  north  part  of  the  county  of  Hamp- 
fhireand  of  Worcefter,  by  the  way  of  Weftminfter, 
and  from  Vermont  State,  and  the  weftern  part  of 
Newhampfhire,  by  the  way  of  Fitchburg ;  thefe 
roads  unite  in  the  northwefterly  part  of  Leomin- 
fter,  and  come  to  the  meetinghoufe,  where  they 
part  again  ;  one  turns  nearly  eaft,  leading  on 
through  Harvard  to  Boflon  ;  the  other  runs  fouth, 

bearing 


WESTERN.  tgg 

bearing  a  little  to  the  eaft  into  Lancafter,  and  fo 
on  to  Bofton.  The  county  road  from  Leominfter 
to  Worcefter  runs  fouthwefterly  through  Sterling. 
Leominfter  is  a  growing,  flourifliing  town  ;  it 
ftands  about  the  middle  of  the  towns  of  the  coun 
ty  in  the  proportion  it  pays  to  a  ftate  tax  ;  and 
when  the  late  cenfus  was  taken  there  were  166 
dwelling  houfes,  and  1 190  inhabitants  in  the  place. 


WESTERN. 

JL  H I  S  town  was  taken  from  Brook- 
field,  Brimfield  and  Palmer,  and  was  incorporated 
on  the  1 6th  of  January,  1741.  In  this  place  a 
congregational  church  was  formed  in  the  year 
1743,  and  on  the  laft  of  January,  1744,  the  Rev. 
Ifaac  Jones  was  ordained  their  firft  paftor.  He 
died  July,  1784,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age,  and 
41  ft  of  his  miniftry.  Mr.  Jones  was  fucceeded  in 
the  facred  office  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Baxter,  who 
was  feparated  hereunto  March  gth,  1791. 

Weftern  is  fituated  at  the  fouthweft  angle  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  eaft  by 
Brookfield,  on  the  fouth  by  Brimfield,  and  on  the 
weft  by  Palmer  :  It  is  about  feventy  three  miles 
from  the  ftatehoufe  in  Bofton  to  the  fouthweft,  and 
from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  it  is  about  twen 
ty 


WESTERN, 

ty  eight  miles,  and  on  the  pod  road  from 
to  Springfield,  although  this  road  does  not  pafs 
through  the  centre  of  the  town,  or  by  the  meeting* 
houfe.  From  Brookfield  this  road  enters  Weftern 
on  the  northeaft,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
rods  from  the  River  Quabpag  on  the  fouth  fide 
thereof,  and  runs  nearly  parallel  therewith  for  a- 
bout  the  fpace  of  two  miles  ;  then  the  road  to 
Northampton  parts  from  this,  taking  a  northweft- 
erly  direction  acrofs  the  abovenamed  river.  The 
left  hand,  orpoil  road,  bears  a  fouthweftern  courfe 
to  Springfield.  The  town  does  not  lie  in  a  fquare 
and  regular  form.  The  lands  in  general,  are  very 
uneven  :  There  are  fome  fmall  meadows  on  the 
feveral  brooks,  and  fome  good  interval  lands  on 
Quaboag  River  which  runs  through  the  town  ; 
alfo  fame  fmall  fwamps  and  rnoraffes,  but  the  prin 
cipal  part  of  Weftem  is  high  land.  The  middle 
of  the  town  is  broken  and  rough.  A  hill,  by  the 
name  of  Ma?-&'s  Mountain,  of  about  two  miles  in 
circumference,  on  ifs  bafe,  and  terminating  une 
qually  -in  ragged  cliffs,  greatly  injures  the  prof- 
pe&  of  the  nriddle  of  the  town.  A  body  of  land 
in  the  northwefl  nngle  of  the  town,  known  by  the 
name  of  Coy's  Hill,  is  mod  excellent  for  grazing. 
Part  of  this  hill  falls  within  the  limits  of  Brook- 
field,  and  over  this  hiH  paffes  the  road  to  North 
ampton.  On  the  weft  and  fouthweft,  this  town  is 
fcparated  from  the  towns  of  Ware  and  Palmer,  by 
a  chain  of  rocky  hills  and  mountains.  The  in 
habitants  in  general,  are  farmers;  and  the  lands, 
though  rather  rough,  produce  large  crops -df  In 
dian 


WESTERN.  2Qi 

dian  corn,  rye,  and  oats  ;  and  fome  confiderable 
wheat  is  raifed  in  the  town  :  But  much  the  great 
er  part  of  the  land  is  beft  adapted  to  Englifti  grafs 
and  pafturage.  The  foil  is  propitious  to  the  cul 
tivation  of  fruit  trees  of  all  kinds  ;  and  the  height 
and  uneven  furface  of  the  lands,  are  a  great  fecu- 
rity  to  the  grain  and  fruit  from  frofts.  Weftern 
has  its  proportion  of  unimproveable  lands  ;  fome 
of  which  are  dry  and  rocky  ;  fome  almoft  en 
tirely  inacceflible,  by  reafon  of  vaft  ledges  of 
rocks  ;  yet  almolt  all  the  unimproved  and  unim 
proveable  lands  are  covered  with  wood  and  timber. 
On  the  high  lands  grow  chefnut,  oak  and  walnut  ; 
and  in  the  lower  lands  grow  am,  birch,  maple,  elm, 
pine,  hemlock,  &c.  &c.  Weftern  is  fufficiently 
watered  by  fprings,  brooks  and  rivulets,  which  run 
about  in  the  valleys  among  the  hills. 

The  river  Quaboag,  from  Brookfield,  enters  this 
town  on  the  northeaft,  and  pairing  through  it  about 
a  mile  weft  of  the  centre,  goes  out  at  the  fouthweft 
angle,  and  falls  into  Chicabee.  A  great  number 
of  brooks  and  rivulets  are  emptied  into  Quaboag 
River  in  its  courfe  through  Weftern.  Salmon 
were  formerly  taken  from  this  river  within  the 
town  ;  but  now  their  courfe  is  obftru&ed  by  fever- 
al  dams  which  extend  acrofs  it,  for  the  accommo 
dation  of  mills  and  other  water  works  :  However, 
the  river  and  other  ftreams  afford  all  the  various 
kinds  of  filh  which  are  common  to  frefh  water. 
About  a  mile  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  are  fix 
ed  on  this  river,  two  grift  mills,  one  faw  mill,  one 
fcythe  mill,  one  fulling  mill,  and  one  forge  ;  and 
O  the 


acT2  W     E     S     T     E     R     1ST. 

the  town  affords  fome  ore  for  the  fupply  of  the 
forge.  Befides  the  manufactory  of  iron,  there  is 
no  other  which  claims  a  particular  mention,  ex 
cept  it  be  that  of  nlk.  Several  gentlemen  are  turn- 
ing  their  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  mulberry 
trees.  Col.  Jofeph  Jones,  from  about  thirty  trees, 
has  for  three  feafons  paft,  fed  upon  an  average  a- 
bout  30,000  worms  ;  their  produce  has  been  be 
tween  three  and  four  pounds  of  raw  filk  annually. 
And  when  manufactured,  after  making  all  deduc 
tions  for  labour  and  trouble,  has  yielded  a  clear 
profit  yearly,  of  fixty  dollars,  which  is  an  annuity 
of  two  dollars  per  tree.  A  fample  of  the  fewing 
filk,  manufactured  by  Col.  Jones,  and  prefented  to 
the  writer,  is  equal  to  any  imported. 

There  have  been  fome  veRiges  of  the  aboriginals 
difcovered  on  an  extenfive  hill  in  the  eafterly  part 
of  this  town,  which  was  taken  from  Brookfield. 
On  ploughing  the  ground  a  few  years  fmce,  largo 
beds  of  clamlhells  were  difcovered  under  the  foil, 
which  appeared  to  be  placed  at  equal  diflances 
from  each  other;  thefe,  together  with  Indian  uten- 
fils  found  there,  prove  this  was  a  place  of  their  re- 
fort  and  dwelling. 

This  town  is  very  flourifhing,  and  is  growing  in 
number,  and  increafing  in  wealth.  When  the  cen- 
fus  was  taken  two  years  ago,  there  were  124  dwell 
ing  houfes,  and  900  inhabitants  in  the  place. 


DOUGLASS 


DOUGLASS. 


1  HIS  was  an  original  grant,  and  was 
prior  to  that  of  Sutton.  It  is  about  feventy  years 
fmce  fome  families  fettled  in  the  place.  The  firft 
fettlers  came  from  Sherburne,  in  the  county  of 
Middlefex,  whence  it  was  called  New/herburne,  Un 
til  its  incorporation,  which  was  in  the  year  1746, 
when  it  received  the  name  of  Douglafs  to  perpetuate 
the  name  and  deeds  of  William  Douglafs,  M.  D. 
of  Boflon,  originally  from  Scotland,  educated 
there,  a  famous  phyfician  in  his  day,  and  who  alfo 
wrote  a  Hiftory  of  Newengland  in  two  vol.  8vo. 
a  proprietor,  and  confiderable  benefactor. 

The  firft  perfon  born  here  is  yet  living,  almoft 
feventy  years  old. 

The  lands  in  this  place  were  not  fo  pleafing 
and  inviting  as  fome  others,  and  were  therefore 
but  flowly  fettled.  The  lands  were  burnt  over 
yearly  in  the  fpring,  for  the  purpofe  of  turning 
cattle  from  the  neighbouring  towns,  to  feed  there 
on.  Hereby  the  growth  of  timber  was  greatly  in 
jured,  and  the  land  became  hard  to  fubdue.  Plur- 
tleberry  and  whitebufh  fprung  up,  together  with 
laurel,  fweetfern  and  checkerberry,  which  noth 
ing  but  the  plough  will  deftroy.  For  thirty  five 
years  paft  the  inhabitants  have  greatly  increafed, 
have  prevented  the  fires  running,  have  cultivated 
the  lands,  erected  decent  buildings  ;  and  are  in- 
O  2  duftrious 


*04          DOUGLAS 

duflrious  and  profperous.  When  the  general  enu 
meration  of  the  Commonwealth  was  made  in  the 
year  1791,  there  were  in  the  town  16*5  dwelling 
houfes,  and  1080  inhabitants.  This  town  is  bound 
ed  on  the  north,  one  mile  by  Oxford,  and  five 
miles  by  Sutton  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Uxbridge,  fix 
miles  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Gloucefter,  in  the  State  of 
Rhodeifland,  feven  miles  ;  on  the  weft,  two  miles, 
by  Thompfon.  in  the  State  of  Conne&icut ;  two 
rr/iks  by  a  gore  of  land,  and  two  miles  and  an  half 
by  Oxford.  It  lies  47  miles  from  Bofton,  about 
fouthwcft  ;  'and  about  fixteen  miles  from  the  court- 
houfe  in  Worcefter,  nearly  fouth.  The  lands  of 
Douglafs,  in  general,  are  better  for  the  growing  of 
Indian  corn,  rye,  oats  and  flax,  than  natural  to 
grafs.  They  are  exceedingly  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  apple  tree?,  and  all  the  other  kinds  of  fruit  trees 
common  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  natural 
growth  of  wood  in  the  town  is,  in  the  fwamps  and 
low  lands,  cedar,  fpruce,  «Scc.  in  fome ;  in  others, 
hemlock,  white  pine,  am,  birch,  beech,  hornbeam, 
and  maple  :  On  the  uplands,  walnut,  gray,  white 
and  yellow  oak,  chefnut,  and  chefnut  oak,  (its 
leaves  like  the  chefnut,  and  bark  like  the  oak)  ma 
ple,  pine,  elm,  locufts,  balm  of  Gilead,  fo  called, 
&c.  Sec.  and  almoft  every  kind  of  tree,  fhrub, 
and  bum,  which  is  to  be  found  in  any  of  thefe 
northern  States.  The  town  has  greatly  abounded 
with  good  timber,  and  in  the  weft  part  thereof 
there  are  almoft  four  thoufand  acres  of  roeky 
woods  ;  and  in  the  place,  potafh,  hoops  and  bar 
rels  are  made  in  pltnfy  ;  fome  Ihingles  are  manu 
factured 


DOUGLASS.          205 

fa&ured  here,  and  pine  boards  {awed.  The 
general  face  of  the  town  is  uneven ;  hills  and  vales 
interfperfed  ;  there  are  many  fteep,  pine,  fandy 
hills ;  good  building  fpots  abound  ;  and  firiall 
hills  defcending  every  way  ;  dry  cellars,  and  yet 
on  fuch  fpots,  eighteen  feet  is  deep  enough  to  find 
Conftant  water  for  wells,  and  that  within  two  rods 
of  the  top  of  the  higher  lands.  The  town  is  ex 
ceedingly  well  Watered  :  Rivulets  and  fprings 
every  where  abound  ;  and  the  people  reap  great 
advantages  indeed,  by  turning  and  fpreading  the 
water  over  their  lands  at  their  pleafure.  The 
brooks  and  ftrearns  run  eafterly,  until  they  fall  in 
to  rivers  which  go  to  the  fouth. 

In  the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town  is  Wallump 
£ond,  fo  called  ;  it  has  a  fmall  inlet  at  the  north 
end,  'and  an  outlet  at  the  fouth  end,  in  the  State 
of  Rhodeifland.  This  pond  lies  two  miles  in 
Douglafs,  and  one  mile  in  Gloucefter,  and  is  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  width.  Badluck  Pond, 
fo  called,  in  the  border  of  rocky  woods,  in  the  wef- 
terly  part  of  the  lown,  covers  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  ground.  In  this  pond  great 
rocks  appear  above  the  water,  even  in  the  midft 
of  it.  This  is  fuppofed  to  contain  much  ore,  and 
may  be  eafily  drained.  It  has  an  inlet  at  the  fouth, 
and  an  outlet  on  the  north,  which  pafles  into 
Mumford  River.  Manchaug  Pond,  in  the  north- 
wefterly  part  of  the  town,  is  about  one  mile  long, 
and  one  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  in  Douglafs,  the 
remainder  of  it  lies  in  Sutton.  This  has  feveral 
inlets  on  the  weft  and  north  ;  the  outlet  is  on  the 
O  3  eaft, 


sto6  DOUGLASS. 

eaft,  runs  in  Sutton,  becomes  a  river,  turns  fouth 
and  comes  into  Douglafs,  and  finally  unites  with 
Mumford  River.  Mumford  River  rifes  in  rocky 
woods,  increafmg  by  ftreams  from  the  ponds  and 
from  fprings,  and  runs  eaft  into  Uxbridge.  There 
is  a  fpring  in  rocky  woods,  a  little  fouthweft  from 
Badluck  Pond,  which  iffues  out  of  an  apparently 
dry  hill,  and  forms  a  ftream,  which  runs  foutheaft, 
never  dry,  and  never  known  to  freeze.  This  paffes 
one  rod  and  an  half  fouth  of  the  great  road,  and  is 
greatly  admired  for  its  pleafantnefs  and  refrefh- 
ing  nature.  The  foldiers  in  the  late  war,  called  it 
the  White  Oak  Tavern.  There  is  confiderable  in 
terval  land  on  Mumford  River  ;  there  are  four 
hundred  acres  in  one  body,  near  the  head  of  it ; 
further  down  there  are  divers  other  pieces,  fome  of 
them  large  :  Alfo,  on  this  fame  river,  there  are 
works  for  making  refined  iron,  near  to  Uxbridge 
line,  and  a  corn  and  faw  mill,  very  profitable. 
There  are  four  hills  in  the  town,  large  and  no 
ticeable.  The  firfl  we  (hall  mention  is  a  little 
north  of  the  meetinghoufe,  large  and  confiderable ; 
originally  well  clothed  with  timber,  but  now  af 
fords  good  tillage,  mowing,  and  pafture  land.  On 
the  weft  fide  of  this  hill,  at  the  bottom  near  a 
fwamp,  the  Indians,  in  old  time,  had  their  Wig 
wams  and  a  fort,  the  remains  of  which  are  yet 
v-ifible,  and  their  tools  are  ftill  found  in  the 
fields.  About  forty  rods  north  of  this  hill,  lies 
another  hill,  larger,  but  not  cleared.  Wallump 
Pond  hill,  near  the  pond  of  that  name,  in  the 
fouthweft  part  of  the  town,  is  large  but  not  very 


NEWBRAINTREE.        207 

high  ;  this  the  people  are  beginning  to  fettle  and 
improve.  In  the  foutheaft  part  of  the  town  is  fit- 
uated  Bald  Hill,  taking  its  name  from  the  barren- 
nefs  of  its  fummit.  This  hill  is  now  become 
fruitful  in  corn,  rye,  &c. 

We  mail  now  give  fome  account  of  the  Ecclefi- 
aftical  ft  ate  of  Douglafs.  The  congregational 
church  here  was  gathered  November  nth,  1747, 
and  on  the  i6th  of  December,  the  fame  year,  the 
Rev.  William  Phipps  was  ordained  their  firft 
paftor.  On  the  loth  of  July,  1765,  he  was  dif- 
miffed  ;  he  was  fucceeded  in  the  gofpel  mini  ft  ry 
by  the  Rev.  Ifaac  Stone,  who  was  feparated  here 
unto  O&ober  goth,  1771,  and  ftill  continues  with 
them  in  peace  and  harmony.  Here  are  a  number 
of  families  of  the  anabaptift  perfuafion. 


NEWBRAINTREE. 

THE  General  Court  of  Maflachufetts 
having  granted  fix  thoufand  acres  of  land  to  cer 
tain  perfons  of  the  ancient  town  of  Braintree,  in  the 
county  of  Suffolk,  for  fervices  by  them  done  to  the 
publick,  it  was  called  and  known  by  the  ftyle  of 
Braintree  Farms.  This  tracl:  of  land,  together  with 
a  part  of  Brookfield,  and  a  part  of  Hardwick,  was 
incorporated  January  31  ft,  1751,  and  the  name 
O  4  Newbrainttee 


308       N  £  W  B  R  A  I  N  t  R  E  £. 

Newbraifttfee  was  given  to  it.  The  people  who 
firft  fettled  this  territory  took  early  care  for  the  fup- 
port  of  the  gofpel,  and  the  enjoyment  of  all  the 
inftituted  means  of  religion  ;  they  accordingly 
erected  a  houfe  for  the  publick  worfhip  of  God, 
and  on  the  i8th  of  April,  17^4,  the  church  of 
Chrift  in  this  place  was  imbodied,  and  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Ruggles,  their  6rft  minifter,  was  inftall- 
ed  the  fame  day.  Mr.  Ruggles  had  been,  for  a 
number  of  years  before,  minifter  of  the  fecond  parifli 
in  the  town  of  Middleborough,  in  the  county  of  Ply 
mouth.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Fofter,  the  prefent 
paftor  of  the  church  and  congregation  in  New- 
braintree,  was  ordained  a  colleague  with  Mr.  Rug 
gles,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1778.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Ruggles  died  fuddenly,  of  an  epilepfy,  or 
apoplexy,  Lord's  day  morning,  May  i2th,  1782, 
in  the  82d  year  of  his  age,  and  the  62d  of  his  pub- 
lick  miniftry.  There  is  but  one  religious  fociety 
in  the  town,  nor  any  fectaries  excepting  only  two 
families  of  anabaptifts.  The  firft  meetinghoufe 
ever  built  here  is  now  {landing,  and  on  a  beauti 
ful  eminence  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  from 
whence  there  is  a  very  extenfive  profpect.  This 
houfe  was  a  few  years  fmce  repaired,  and  is  now 
very  decent  and  commodious.  The  people  in  this 
place  are  particularly  attentive  to  the  education  of 
their  children  and  youth  :  They  have  eight  repu 
table  fchool  houfes  and  in  the  winter  feafon,  as 
many  inftru&ors  ;  two  Latin  grammar  matters  ; 
an.d  in  the  fummer,  they  have  generally  two  or 
three  mattery  and  as  u&ny  nuftrefe  :  And  they 

expend 


NEWBRAINTREE.        209 

expend  more  annually  in  fupporting  fchools,  than 
in  fupporting  their  publick  teacher  of  piety,  relig 
ion  and  morality,  though  he  is  honourably  main 
tained* 

We  mall  now  prefent  a  Geographical  Defcrip* 
tion  of  Newbraintree. 

This  town  contains  about  13000  acres  of  land, 
and  is  bounded  fouth,  on  Brookfield  ;  weft,  by 
Ware  River,  which  feparates  it  from  Hardwick  ; 
north,  on  the  town  of  Barre  ;  and  eafl,  on  the 
towns  of  Oakham  and  Spencer  :  It  lays  much  in  a 
triangular  form. 

The  town  is  neither  remarkably  hilly  nor  level ; 
but  agreeably  interfperfed  with  moderate  hills  and 
valleys.  There  are  two  hills  of  name  arid  note  ; 
one  on  the  wefterly  fide  of  the  town,  and  is  deep, 
with  large  ledges  of  rocks  on  the  eaft  fide  of  it, 
Called  Rattle  Snakes'  Rocks,  from  the  great  number 
of  thofe  venomous  ferpents,  which,  in  the  infancy 
of  the  town,  inhabited  them  ;  but  their  race  is 
now  almofl  extinflt.  The  other  is  fituated  in  the 
foutheafterly  part  of  the  town,  and  is  called  Mo 
hawk  Hill.  On  the  wefterly  fide  of  the  town,  is 
what  is  commonly  called  a  plain,  though  not  very 
level;  its  natural  grow  th  of  wood  is  pitch  pine  ;  and 
it  is  excellent  for  grain,  and  good  roads.  The  foil 
of  the  town  is  in  general  rocky,  moift,  loamy 
and  warm,  and  genial  to  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats, 
Indian  corn,  peas,  flax,  hemp,  &c.  &c.  It  is  moft 
excellent  for  orcharding  ;  and,  for  its  bignefj, 
rather  exceeds,  perhaps,  any  other  town  in  the 
county  in  fine  grazing  lands,  as  is  evinced  by  the 

annual 


310        NEWBRAINTREE. 

annual  produce  of  the  dairy  and  of  beef.  Before 
the  fettlement  of  this  place,  the  fires  made  in  the 
woods,  had  deftroyed  almoft  the  whole  growth 
of  timber  ;  and  it  was  feared  there  would  be  a 
fcarcity  ;  but  by  the  care  and  prudence  of  the 
inhabitants  there  have,  within  a  few  years,  fprung 
up  fine  groves  of  wood,  and  now  there  is  a  plen 
ty.  The  common  timber  upon  the  upland,  or 
hilly  parts,  is  oak,  walnut  and  chefnut  ;  in  the 
low  lands,  fwamps  and  marfhes,  there  is  maple, 
afli,  birch,  hornbeam  and  fome  fpruce  and  hac- 
raatack. 

Newbraintree  is  very  finely  watered  by  rivers, 
brooks,  rivulets  and  fprings.  Ware  River  runs 
» along  on  the  weft  fide  of  the  town,  and  is  the 
boundary  between  Hardwick  and  this  place.  On 
the  wefterly  fide  of  the  town  there  is  alfo  a  large 
brook,  called  Meminimiflet  Brook,  which  is  form 
ed  entirely  by  fprings  from  the  adjacent  hills, 
and  running  north  empties  itfelf  into  Ware  Riv 
er.  On  this  brook  there  is  an  extenfive  and  lux 
uriant  meadow  of  fevcral  hundreds  of  acres,  call 
ed  Meminimiflet,  the  name  given  to  it  by  the  In 
dians  when  a  hideous  fwamp  :  This  was  the 
head  quarters,  and  the  chief  place  of  rendezvous 
of  the  favages,  at  the  time  when  Brookfield  was  de 
ftroyed  ;  and  near  which  place  eight  brave  men 
were  killed,  and  three  mortally  wounded  by  the 
Indians,  Auguft  2d,  1675,  as  has  been  more  par 
ticularly  related  in  the  account  of  Brookfield  : 
And  hither  Mrs.  Rowlandfon  was  carried  captive, 
who  was  taken  by  the  enemy  at  Lancafter,  Febru 
ary 


N  E  W  B  R  A  I  N  T  R  E  E.       211 

ary  loth,  1676,  and  here  me  buried  her  wounded 
child,  on  the  i8th  of  that  month.* 

This  meadow  beforementioned  produces  exceed 
ing  great  crops  of  mofl  excellent  hay.  At  the  eaft- 
erly  part  of  the  town  lie  two  very  considerable 
tracts  of  meadovv  land,  through  which  run  two 
brooks  which  arife  from  fprings  ;  thefe  brooks, 
one  of  which  carries  a  corn  mill,  after  paffing 
faid  meadows,  and  running  near  the  fouth  line  of 
the  town,  unite,  and  then  carry  a  faw  mill  :  This 
ftream  then  runs  into  the  north  part  of  Brookfield, 
and  after  feveral  windings  and  meanderings,  and 
carrying  two  more  mills,  it  again  vifits  the  fouth 
part  of  this  town,  and  runs  through  another  large 
tract  of  excellent  meadow,  called  Ditch  Meadow, 
and  carrying  another  corn  mill  in  Newbraintree, 
it  leaves  the  town,  and  falls  into  a  large  pond  in 
the  weft  parifh  in  Brookfield,  called  Wickoboaug 
Pond.  The  air  of  this  town  is  accounted  good 
and  falubrious,  and  the  people  profper,  flourifh 
and  increafe.  Excepting  a  few  of  the  ufual  me- 
chanicks,  and  one  or  two  traders  in  foreign  goods, 
the  people  are  farmers,  and  have  the  reputation  of 
being  good  hufbandmen,  frugal  and  induflrious, 
and  they  live  much  independent.  According  to 
the  late  enumeration  the  number  of  ibuls  amount 
ed  to  940  ;  and  their  houfes  are  in  general  neat 
and  commodious.  This  town  is  fixty  fix  miles 
from  Bofton,  a  little  to  the  fouth  of  weft  ;  and  it  is 
nineteen  miles  from  the  courthoufein  Worcefter,  a 
very  little  to  the  north  of  weft.  There  is  confider- 

able 

*  See  this  account  as  related  under  the  head  of  Lancafter. 


*ia  S    P    E    N    C    E    R. 

able  travel  through  the  place.  A  road  from  Con 
necticut  river,  through  Hard  wick,  pafles  through 
Newbraintree  and  on  to  Rutland,  and  fo  on  to 
Bofton.  A  road  alfo  from  the  northward  leads 
through  this  town  to  Brookfield,  and  fo  on  to  the 
fouthward. 


SPENCER. 

I  H£  whole  of  this  town  was  included 
in  the  original. gr?nt  of  Leicefter.  It  was  made  at 
parifh  or  precinct  early  in  the  year  1744,  and  was 
called  the  wefterly  parifh  of  Leicefter,  until  its  in 
corporation  on  the  3d  of  April,  1753,  when  the 
name  of  Spencer  was  given  to  it.  In  this  place  a 
church  was  gathered  May  17th,  1744  ;  and  over 
the  flock  of  God  in  this  place  the  Rev.  Jofhua  Ea 
ton  was  ordained  November  7th,  1744,  who  con 
tinued  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  until 
April  2d,  1772,  when  he  died  in  the  28th  year  of 
his  paftorate.  Mr.  Eaton  firft  turned  his  atten 
tion  to  the  law,  and  was,  for  feveral  years,  an  able 
and  fkilful  attorney  in  the  county  of  Worcefter, 
but  chofe  at  length  to  forfake  that  gainful  em 
ployment,  for  the  more  high  and  honourable  one 
of  ferving  God  in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son.  He  made 
a  confpicuous  figure  in  the  facred  office.  The 

Rev. 


SPENCER. 

Rev.  Jofeph  Pope  fucceeded  Mr.  Eaton,  as  an  am- 
baffador  of  Jefus  Chrifl,  being  confecrated  unto 
this  holy  calling  O&ober  2Oth,  1773,  and  ftill  con 
tinues  therein. 

Spencer  is  faid  to  be  eight  miles  in  length,  and 
four  miles  in  breadth,  on  a  ftraight  line.  The  town 
is  confiderably  uneven,  abounding  in  hills  and  val 
leys,    although  there  are  no   hills  very   high    or 
large,  or  called  by  any  particular  names.     It  is  an 
exceeding  fertile  townfhip,  and  the  inhabitants  are 
induftrious,  profperous   and  wealthy.     It    is   be 
come  more  numerous  and  opulent   than  the   town 
from  whence  it  was  taken,  as  it  is  larger  in  lands, 
becaufe  feveral  years   after  the   incorporation   of 
Spencer,  the   northwefterly   part  of  Leicefter  was 
with  the  foutherly  part  of  Rutland,  fet  off  to  form 
the  town  of  Paxton. 

This  town  is  watered  by  many  excellent  peren 
nial  ftreams  which  run  through  the  feveral  parts  of 
it,  fome  of  which  are  fufficient  to  carry  mills,  but 
none  of  them  are  large.  There  are  three  in  the  north 
erly  part ;  one  proceeds  from  a  large  and  fine  pond, 
which  lays  partly  in  Spencer  and  partly  in  Rut 
land,  called  Browning's  Pond  :  Its  courfe,  for  fever 
al  miles,  is  foutherly.  Another  to  the  eaflward  of  it, 
has  its  fource  in  Rutland,  and  runs  for  fome  miles 
in  the  fame  direction  with  the  former.  A  third  if- 
fues  from  a  pond  in  the  north  part  of  Leicefter;  and 
running  a  wefterly  courfe  for  a  conliderable  fpace, 
then  unites  with  the  fecond  ;  after  this  junciion, 
turning  fouthweft,  they  fall  in  with  the  firft  men 
tioned  ftream.  The  general  .courfe  of  thefe  wa 
ters 


8i4  S     P     E     N     C     E     R. 

ters  flill  being  fouthwefterly,  they  are  emptied  into 
Podunk  Pond,  fo  called,  inBrookfield  ;  whence  if- 
fues  a  river  which  runs  into  Chicabee  River,  which 
falls  into  Connecticut  river,  in  the  north  part  of 
Springfield.  There  are  alfo  in  the  fouth  part  of 
this  town,  two  ftreams,  one  of  which  uniting  with 
the  ftreams  mentioned  above,  falls  into  Connecti 
cut  river  ;  the  other  running  foutherly,  falls  in 
with  French  River,  which  is  emptied  into  the  fea 
at  Newlondon,  in  the  foutheaft  angle  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut.  All  thefe  ftreams  have  one  or 
more  mills  (landing  on  them.  There  are  likewife 
in  Spencer,  two  clothiers'  works,  where  much  bufi- 
riefs  is  performed  to  great  publick  advantage ;  al 
fo,  there  are  two  potalh  and  pearlafh  works. 

The  growth  of  wood  in  the  town  is  of  the  ufual 
various  forts.  On  the  high  lands,  oak,  walnut 
and  chefnut  are  the  chief.  The  fwamps  are  cov 
ered  generally  with  maple,  birch  and  elm.  In  the 
infancy  of  the  town,  there  was  a  large  quantity  of 
excellent  pine  timber,  but  this  is  mainly  worked  up. 

The  number  of  the  people  in  Spencer,  accord 
ing  to  the  late  cenfus,  was  computed  at  1322,  and 
the  number  of  houfes  was  192. 

•Spencer  lies  about  eleven  miles  fouthwefterly 
from  Worcefter,  on  the  poft  road  to  Springfield, 
and  fifty  eight  miles  from  Bofton  to  the  fouthweft. 

Spencer  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Paxton  ; 
on  the  eaft,  by  Leicefter  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Charl- 
ton ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Brookfield. 


PETERSHAM. 


•21, 


PETERSHAM. 

1  HIS  was  an  original  grant  made  by 
the  General  Court,  in  the  clofe  of  the  year  1732, 
or  beginning  of  1733,  to  John  Bennett,  Jeremiah 
Perley,  and  others,  as  a  compenfation  for  fervices 
performed  by  them  in  the  Indian  wars,  under  a 
Capt.  John  White  of  Lancafter.  The  firft  meet 
ing  of  the  grantees  was  held  on  the  loth  of  May, 
1733.  Some  time  after  the  grant  was  made,  to 
quiet  the  Indians  who  claimed  the  foil,  the  pro 
prietors  made  them  a  fatisfa&ory  confideration 
therefor.  It  is  rather  more  than  fix  miles  fquare. 
It  had  been  a  feat  for  Indians,  and  was  called  ma 
ny  years  by  its  Indian  name,  which  was  Nichewaug  ; 
and  in  the  fouth  part  of  the  town  lies  NicJiewaug 
Hill.,  fo  called  by  the  natives,  whereon,  as  in  fome 
other  parts  of  the  town,  they  had  formerly  plant 
ed  fields  of  Indian  corn,  of  which  there  remained 
evident  traces  when  the  firft  Englifli  fettlers  began 
there. 

The  original  proprietors  being  fome  of  them 
wealthy  and  enterprizing,  they  encouraged  and 
drove  on  the  fettlement  of  this  then  infant  planta 
tion,  although  there  were  no  fettled  towns  nearer 
than  Lancafter  on  the  eaft,  and  Rutland  to  the 
foutheaft,  and  Brookfield  to  the  fouth.  except  a  few- 
new  fettlers  in  Lambftown,  now  Hardwick.  But 
the  land  being  excellent,  divers  perfons  foon  be 
gan  to  work  upon  lots  ;  the  proprietors  built  a 

meetinghoufe, 


si£  PETERSHAM. 

meetinghoufe,  and  fo  early  as  the  year  1738,  they 
contra6led  with  and  fettled  a  mini  Her  for  the  in 
habitants,  and  who  was  fupported  by  them  until  its 
incorporation.     Although   the  profpe&s   from  the 
lull  were  very   promifing,   and   fettlers  moved  in 
faft,  yet  they  laboured  under  many  and  exceeding 
great   diludvantages,   being  then    fo  remote  from 
any  white  people,  from  whom  they  could  procure 
the  necelfaries  of  life,  or  derive  any  aid  and  fup- 
port.     While  in  its  infancy,   and  flruggling  for 
life,  fo  early   as   1744,   a  French   war  broke  out, 
and    the   Indians,    being    always    in   the    intereft 
of  the  French,  they  became  hoftiie,  and  began   to 
commit  depredations  in  various  parts  of  the  land, 
which  occafioned  the  few  inhabitants   great  fear, 
terror  and  danger,  obliging  them  to  build  forts  in 
different  parts  of  the  town,  round  certain  houfcs, 
into  each  of  which  a  number  of  families  moved 
for  fafety  and  defence,  and  foldiers  were  flationed 
there  as  a  guard  to  the  inhabitants,  and  to  recon 
noitre   the  country.     The   people  ufed  to  labour 
on   their  lands,  in  fmali  parties,  changing  works 
with  one  another,   having  their  guns  by  them,  and 
thcfe  alfo  they  were,   for   a  long  time,  obliged  to 
carry  with  them  whenever  they  went  to  the  houte 
of  God  for  religious   woifhip,   and  alfo  to  place 
centinels   at  the  doors.     But  although  they  were 
often    alarmed,    yet    no    white   perfon    was    ever 
known   to  le  killed  in  the   place.     When   peace 
was  fettled  between  England  and  France,  and  dan 
ger  and  fear  from  the  Indians  ceafed,  the  fettlement 
of  the  plantation  went  on  very  rapidly,  and  the  peo 
ple 


P  £  T  E  R  S  H  A  M.  217 

pie  were  become  fo  numerous  and  able,  as  that 
the  place  was  incorporated  with  all  town  privileges 
April  2Oth,  1754,  and  received  the  name  of  Pe- 
terfham.  The  church  of  Chrift  in  this  place  was 
gathered,  and  their  firft  minifter,  the  Rev.  Aaron 
Whitney,  was  ordained  December,  1738,  who  con 
tinued  until  September  8th,  1779,  when  he  died 
in  the  66th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  41  ft  of  his 
miniftry.  The  year  following,  October  25th, 
1780,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Reed  was  folemnly  fep- 
arated  unto  that  office  and  work,  and  who  ftill 
continues  therein.  Here  alfo  is  a  fociety  of  bap- 
tifts,  who  have  for  their  teacher  Air.  John  Sellen. 
The  town  of  Peterfham  has  been  one  of  themoft 
profperous  and  flourifhing  in  the  county,  if  not  in 
the  Commonwealth.  Although  the  grant  of  the 
townmip  was  fubfequent  to  the  formation  of  the 
county,  yet  it  has  fo  flourifhed  and  increafed  that 
it  is  become  one  of  the  foremoft  towns  in  the  coun 
ty  for  wealth  and  number.  There  are  but  feven 
towns  who  pay  more  to  a  State  tax  ;  it  contains 
about  1520  fouls,  according  to  the  late  cenfus. 
The  natural  fituation  of  the  town  is  exceedingly 
beautiful ;  it  is  very  high,  but  not  hilly  and  une 
ven  :  The  body  of  the  town  lies  upon  the  higheft 
land  in  it,  which  is  a  large  long  flat  hill,  upon  the 
higheft  part  of  which  the  great  road  runs  from  the 
fouth  to  the  north,  eight  rods  wide,  and  fet  with 
trees  on  both  fides,  and  for  three  or  four  miles 
in  length  affords  a  moft  commanding  profpecT;, 
not  only  of  the  whole  town,  but  of  all  the  adja 
cent  towns  ;  the  houfes  are  large  and  well  finifti- 
P  cd 


2i8  PETERSHAM, 

ed,  {landing  on  either  fide  of  the  ftreel,  from 
whence  the  land  falls  each  way  eafl  and  weft,  a- 
bout  a  mile  and  an  half  to  a  ftream,  and  then  riles 
again,  cfpecially  to  the  eaft,  where  it  is  fully  fet 
tled  ;  is  in  clear  view  on  the  main  flrcet,  and 
appears  like  another  town.  Here  they  have  lately 
erefted  a  large  and  elegant  meetinghoufe,  {landing 
on  a  tnoft  confpicuous  fituation,  fo  as  to  be  feen 
from  divers  of  the  contiguous  towns;  foon  afterit 
was  built,  Mj\^Ele^za£jBradfhciw_,  now  of  Brook- 
field,  made  them  a  prcfent  of  a  large  bell,  the 
weight  whereof  is  91  3ft),  and  the  coft  thereof  was 
96/.  65.  8d.  So  noble  and  publick  fpirited  a  deed, 
ought  to  be  perpetuated  for  the  honour.  of  the  do 
nor,  and  to  flimulatc  others  to  like  generous  a£ls. 

Tliis  town  is  thought  by  fome  to  be  the  pleaf- 
nnteft,  for  an  inland  town,  of  any  in  the  State,  af 
fording  to  the  eye,  a  general,  ex  tenfive,  and  agree 
ably  variegated  profpeft. 

The  land  in  this  place  is  exceedingly  favourable 
to  the  growth  of  all  kinds  of  fruit  trees,  being  high 
and  warm  ;  and  here  are  large  and  excellent  or 
chards,  and  much  cyder  is  made  here,  beyond 
v  hat  the  inhabitants  conlume  ;  but  they  find  a 
ready  market  for  the  furplus  in  the  newer  fcttle- 
inenLs.  Having  mentioned  their  fine  orchards,  I 
\\-ould  duly  notice  one  very  remarkable  natural 
curlojity  relative  to  this  fubjecl:.  There  is  now 
growing  in  an  orchard,  lately  belonging  to  my 
honoured  father,  the  Rev.  Aaron  Whitney,  dcceaf- 
ed,  an  appletree,  very  fmgular  with  refpecl;  to  its 
fruit.  The  apples  are  fair,  and  when  fully  ripe 


•':. 


PETERSHAM.  219 

of  a  yellow  colour,  but  evidently  of  different  taftes ^ 
four  and  fweet.  The  part  which  is  four  is  not  very 
tart,  nor  the  other  very  fweet.  Two  apples,  grow 
ing  fide  by  fide,  on  the  fame  limb,  will  be  of  thefe 
different  taftes,  the  one  all  four,  and  the  other  all 
fweet  :  And  which  is  more  remarkable,  the  fame 
apple  will  be  four  on  one  fide,  end,  or  part,  and 
the  other  fweet  ;  and  that  not  in  any  order  or  uni 
formity  ;  nor  is  there  any  difference  in  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  one  part  from  the  other.  And  as 
to  the  quantity,  fome  have  more  of  the  acid,  and 
lefs  of  the  fweet,  and  fo  vice  verfa.  Neither  are 
the  apples  fo  different  in  their  taftes,  peculiar  to 
any  particular  branches,  but  are  found  promifcu- 
oufly  on  any  and  every  branch  of  the  tree.  The 
tree  ftands  almoft  in  the  midft  of  a  large  orchard 
in  a  rich  and  ftrong  foil,  and  was  tranfplanted 
there  about  fifty  years  ago.  There  is  no  appear 
ance  of  the  trunk,  or  any  of  the  branches  having  been 
ingrafted  or  inoculated.  It  was  a  number  of  years 
after  it  had  borne  fruit,  before  thefe  different  taftes 
were  noticed  ;  but  fince  they  were  firft  difcovered, 
which  is  upwards  of  thirty  years,  there  has  been 
conftantly  the  fame  variety  obferved  in  the  tafte  of 
the  fruit  of  this  tree.  For  the  truth  of  the  above 
account,  an  appeal  may  be  made  to  many  perfons 
of  diftinftion,  and  of  nice  taftes,  who  have  trav 
elled  a  great  diftance  to  view  the  tree  and  tafte  the 
fruit  ;  but  to  inveftigate  the  caufe  of  an  effect  fo 
much  out  of  the  common  courfe  of  nature,  muft, 
I  think,  be  attended  with  difficulty.  Theonly  fo- 
lution  I  can  conceive  is,  that  the  corcula,  or  hearts 
P  2  of 


5220  PETERSHAM, 

of  tu-o  feeds,  the  one  from  a  four,  and  the  other 
from  a  fvveet  apple,  might  fo  incorporate  in  the 
ground,  as  to  prod uoe  but  one  plant,  or  that  farina 
from  blofifoms  of  thofe  oppofite  qualities,  might 
pafs  into,  and  impregnate  the  fame  feed.  But 
leaving  this  to  the  di  feu  (lion  of  naturaliUs,  I  pro 
ceed  with  our  description  of  Peterfham. 

The  foil  is  rich  and  fertile,  and  the  lands  bear 
all  kin  is  ol  grain,  but  moil  natural  to  grafs  and 
pa  flu  rage,  and  from  the  appearance  and  face  of 
the  town,  we  muft  judge  the  inhabitants  to  be  in- 
duftrious  and  wealthy,  who  fubfift  mainly  by  the 
cultivation  of  the  earth.  Though  the  town  lies 
very  high,  yet  the  land  is  not  dry,  but  ftony  and 
moift,  abounding  with  fprings  and  brooks  of  wa 
ter  ;  there  are,  however,  but  two  noticeable 
ilrjams  :  Swift  River,  which  rifes  from  fprings 
in  Gerry,  runs  to  the  foulhweft,  through  the  caft- 
erly  and  foutherly  part  of  Peterfham,  into  the 
northweft  part  of  Hardwick. 

Weft  Brook,  a  confiderable  ftream,  rifes  in  the 
northwcflerly  part  of  the  town,  and  runs  through 
all  the  weft  fide  of  it,  and  then  enters  Greenwich, 
in  the  county  of  Hampfhire.  On  each  of  thefe 
there  are  both  corn  and  faw  mills,  and  clothiers' 
works  ;  and  by  th?  fides  of  both  there  are  confid- 
erable  bodies  of  good  meadow  land.  Here  are 
works  for  making  pot  and  pearl  am,  where  much 
bufmeis  is  profitably  carried  on,  and  many  perfons 
employed.  On  the  high  lands  the  growth  of 
wood  is  oakj  rr.  .1,  and  a  great  deal  of 

walnut  of  later  yc.irs.  In  the  fwamps  aad  low 

lands, 


C    H    A    R    L    T    O    N,  221 

lands,  there  is  birch,  beech,  maple,  afh,  elm,  and 
hemlock. 

This  town  is  fituated  fixty  fix  miles  from  Bof- 
ton,  nearly  weft,  and  about  twenty  eight  miles 
from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcester  to  the  northweft, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Athol  ;  on  the 
eaft,  by  Gerry  and  Barre  ;  on  the  fbuth,  by  Barre 
and  Hardwick  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Greenwich 
and  Newfalem,  in  the  county  of  Hampfliire. 


C     H     A     R     L     T     O     N. 

1  H  I  S  town  was  taken  wholly  from 
Oxford,  and  was  thewefterly  part  thereof:  It  was 
incorporated  November  2d,  1754,  and  then  receiv 
ed  its  prefent  name. 

As  much  of  the  land  in  Charlton  lies  in  the 
hands  of  the  original  proprietors,  its  fettlement 
was  greatly  retarded  for  many  years.  However, 
in.  April,  1761,  the  congregational  church  here  was 
imbodied,  and  the  Rev.  Caleb  Curtis  was  folemn- 
ly  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  in 
this  place,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1761.  He  con 
tinued  their  paftor  fifteen  years,  and  was  difmiffed 
from  his  office  by  a  mutual  council,  October  29th, 
1776.  The  people  remained  deftitute  of  a  fettled 
minifter  upwards  of  fix  years,  until  January  8thr 
1783,  when  the  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell  was 
P  3  inftalled 


228  C    H    A    R    L    T    O    N. 

inftalled  their  pallor.  This  Mr.  Campbell  was 
ordained  paftor  of  the  church  and  congregation  in 
Eafton,  in  the  county  of  Briftol,  on  the  ijth  of 
Augufl,  1763,  where  he  continued  nineteen  years, 
being  difmifled  from  his  paftoral  relation  to  that 
people,  Augufl  nth,  1782.  Mr.  Campbell  con 
tinued  in  the  paftoral  office  in  Charlton,  until  A- 
pril  gth,  1793,  when  he  was  difmifled  by  council, 
at  his  fpecial  requcft. 

There  is  a  large  anabaptifl  church  and  fociety 
in  this  town,  but  at  prefent  they  are  deftitute  of  a 
fettled  minifter,  as  well  as  the  congregational 
church  and  fociety. 

We  proceed  to  a  Topographical  Defcription  of 
Charlton. 

This  town  was  not  in  high  repute  at  firft,  and 
was  thought  by  fome  to  be  hardly  worth  fettling 
upon  :  As  it  was  very  rough  in  its  natural  flate, 
and  hard  to  fubdue.  But  fuch  land  is  almoft  al- 
iv ays  found  to  be  flrong  and  to  wear  well.  This 
being  the  cafe  with  Charlton,  from  fmall  begin 
nings  and  an  inconfiderable  figure,  it  has  rifen  up, 
in  the  fpace  of  thirty  or  forty  years,  to  renown  a- 
mong  the  towns  of  the  county.  It  is  computed  to 
be  nearly  fevcn  miles  fquare,  being  much  larger 
in  extent  than  Oxford  from  whence  it  was  taken, 
and  in  general  a  better  traft  of  land.  The  peo 
ple  are  become  very  numerous,  there  being  1965 
fouls  in  the  place  when  the  ccnfus  was  taken  in 
the  year  1791,  which  is  more  by  fcvcral  hundreds 
than  any  town  in  the  county,  except  Brookfield, 
vSulton  and  Worcefter,  and  it  is  become  exceedingly 

wealthy, 


C    H    A    R    L    T    O    N.  223 

wealthy,  as  in  the  laft  State  tax  there  were  but  fix 
towns  which  paid  more.  There  are  300  dwelling 
houfes  in  the  town.  The  people  fubfift  chiefly  by 
the  cultivation  of  the  earth  ;  and  they  have  great 
encouragement  to  labour,  for  the  foil  is  flrong  and 
rich,  and  the  lands  are  fertile  and  very  productive  : 
Here  they  raife  grain  of  all  kinds  in  plenty  ;  beef 
and  pork  are  fatted  ;  butter  and  cheefe  are  made 
in  quantities  equal  to,  if  not  furpaffing  any  other 
town  in  the  county.  The  lands  are  well  and  nat 
urally  adapted  to  orcharding  and  fruit  of  all  kinds. 
The  hills  are  moift  and  fpringy  ;  the  hills  and  val 
leys  are  well  proportioned  and  agreeably  inter- 
fperfed.  The  town  is  well  watered  by  fprings, 
brooks  and  rivulets,  none  of  which  claim  particu 
lar  mention  :  But  there  is  one  large  river  in  the 
weftern  part  of  the  town,  near  to  Sturbridge,  which 
runs  from  the  north  to  the  fouth,  and  is  called 
Quinebaug.  This  river  is  almoft  an  inconceivable 
advantage,  not  to  Charlton  only,  but  to  many  ad 
jacent  towns,  by  fupplying  great  plenty  of  water 
for  all  the  mills  and  water  works  in  the  drieft  fea- 
fons.  On  this  river,  within  the  limits  of  Charlton, 
there  are  fome  rich  interval,  and  good  meadow 
lands. 

There  are  feveral  hills  in  this  town  worthy  of 
particular  mention  ;  one  by  the  name  of  Ponnakin. 
Another  called  Majhymuggeit  ;  this  is  high,  for  on 
its  fummit  buildings  in  about  twelve  adjacent 
towns  may  be  difcerned.  This  hill  is  fituated  a- 
"bout  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  congrega 
tional  meetinghoufe.  There  is  a  third,  known  by 
?  the 


224  CHARLTON. 

the  name  of  Blood's  Hill.  The  fourth  and  laft  we 
fhall  mention,  is  called  Craige's  Hill. 

There  are  no  ponds  in  the  town, worthy  of  no 
tice,  nor  mines  or  minerals  as  yet  discovered. 

The  wood  and  timber  which  grow  in  Charfcon 
is  white,  black,  and  red  oak,  and  walnut  and  chef- 
nut  in  great  plenty  ;  fome  white  pine,  and  fomc 
pitch  pine  :  In  the  low  lands  there  is  am,  birch, 
maple,  &c.  &c. 

In  Charlton  there  arc  a  few  dealers  in  Europe 
an  and  India  goods,  as  is  ufual  in  country  towns ; 
and  they  have  alfo  all  the  common  tradefmen  and 
mechanicks.  But  there  are  two  tanners  in  the 
town  to  be  noticed,  who  carry  on  their  bufinefs  to 
a  very  con fiderable  degree,  and  in  the  mofl  advan 
tageous  manner,  viz.  Capt.  Ifrael  Waters,  and  Mr. 
Afa  Corben  ;  and  efpecially  the  former,  in  the 
northerly  part,  who  carries  on  his  work  to  great 
perfection.  He  has  an  excellent  bark  mill,  car 
ried  by  water,  and  upon  a  new  conftruclion, 
whereby  he  grinds  all  his  bark.  On  the  fame 
flream,  a  little  below,  there  is  a  gin  ftill,  a  brew 
ery,  mak  houfe  and  corn  mill,  under  the  fame  roof, 
the  property  of  Mr.  Eli  Wheelock,  who  erected 
faid  works  in  Uie  year  1792,  and  where  he  carries 
on  each  branch  of  bufinefs  very  largely  to  his  own 
and  the  publick  intereft.  On  the  fame  flream 
there  are  feveral  grift  and  faw  mills,  and  other 
wafer  works,  and  moll  of  the  mechanicks  live  in, 
this  north  part  of  the  town.  There  are  alfo  a 
number  of  pot  and  pearl  am  works  in  different 
parts  of  the  town,  where  large  quantities  of  pot  and 

pearl 


WESTMINSTER. 

pearl  afh  is  annually  made  and  exported. 
Charlton  is  in  many  refpeds,  one  of  the  foremoll 
towns  in  the  county.  It  is  fituated  fouthweft 
from  Bofton  at  the  diflance  of  fixty  miles  ;  and 
from  Wor.cefter  courthoufe  it  is  fifteen  miles,  a 
little  to  the  fouthweil.  It  is  bounded  north,  by 
Spencer ;  eaft,  by  Oxford  ;  fouth,  by  Dudley  ; 
and  weft,  by  Sturbridge. 


WEST   M   I   N   S   T   E   R. 

1  HIS  muft  be  "  the  fouth  town  laid 
out  to  the  Narraganfet  foldiers,"*  as  exprefled  in 
the  aft  for  erefting  the  county  of  Worcefter.  It 
was  granted  in  the  year  1728,  as  a  reward  to  a 
number  of  people  who  did  fervice  in  what  was 
called  the  Narraganfet,  or  King  Philip's  war,  or  to 
their  heirs,  and  was  fly  led  Narraganfet,  No.  2, 
until  its  incorporation,  which  was  on  the  2Oth  of 
Oftober,  1759,  when  the  name  of  Weftminfter 


was  given  to  it. 


The 


*  Having  mentioned  this  grant,  it  is  fitting  to  give  a  hiftory  of  the  whole 
matter  in  brief.  In  the  year  1728,  application  was  made  to  the  General 
Court  for  a  reward  for  fervices  done  in  the  Narraganfet  war,  and  the  Court 
immediately  granted  two  townfhips  of  fix  miles  fquare.  But  notice  was 
given  to  all  who  did  fervice  in  faid  war,  or  the  legal  heirs  of  fuch  as  were  de- 
ceafed,  to  bring  in  a  lift  of  their  names  at  the  next  feffions  of  the  Court  ; 
•when  eight  hundred  and  forty  appeared,  and  were  approved  as  legal  claim 
ants,  Being  Co  numerous,  two  townfhips  woe  judged  inadequate  ;  and  upon 

further 


^6          WESTMINSTER. 

The  firft  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  this 
grant  (who  confifted  chiefly  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Cambridge,  Charleftown,  Watertown,  Wefton,  Sud- 
bury,  Newton,  Medford,  Maiden  and  Reading) 
was  held  December  3d,  1733,  when  all  officers 
were  chofen  neceflary  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
theproprietors.  The  firfl  committee  of  the  proprie 
tors  of  Narraganfct  No.  2,  were  John  Cutting, 
James  Lowden,  and  Jofeph  Bowman.  From  this 
time,  to  the  year  1737,  little  was  done  to  forward 
the  fettlemcnt  of  the  place.  In  March  this  year, 
Capt.  Fairbanks  Moor  moved  his  family  into  it. 
He  was  the  firft  planter.  In  June,  Deacon  Jofeph 
Holden  moved  his  family  into  the  place.  Thefe 
two  families  contained  fifteen  fouls.  It  being  an 
expofed  plantation,  fettlers  moved  in  but  flowly. 
In  the  year  1739,  the  proprietors  erected  a  decent 
mectinghoufe,  which  was  dedicated  at  a  proprie 
tors'  meeting,  June  6,  1739.  The  few  fettlers 
were  defirous  of,  and  forward  for  fettling  a  min- 
ifter  ;  accordingly,  on  the  4th  of  Auguft,  1742, 
they  made  choice  of  Mr.  Elifha  Marfh,  in  which 

the 

further  application,  the  Court  granted  five  townfhips  more  in  i732,aflri£ning 
one  hundred  and  twenty  proprietors  to  each,  on  condition,  that  fixty  families 
be  fettled  in  each  place,  with  a  mintftcr,  in  the  fpace  of  feven  years  from  the 
date  of  the  grant,  referving  in  each,  one  ri;;ht  for  the  firft.  minifter,  one  for 
the  miniflry,  and  one  for  the  fdiool  ;  the  government  to  be  at  the  expenfc 
of  laying  out  the  townfhip*. 

The  -A-lmle  fociety  of  petitioners,  or  claimants,  nr-t  at  Boflon  on  the  coin- 
rr.on.  June.  1732,  and,  dividing  tliemfelvcs  into  fevcn  claffes,  agreed  to 
dia\v  1'irs  for  the  to^-n!hips.  A  committee  of  the  General  Court  laid  out 
the  townfhips,  and  numbered  them.  No.  i.  was  located  back  of  Snco  and 
Scarborough.  No.  2,  north  of  Watchufelt  hi!l.  No.  3,  at  Sonnet-in,  weft ; 
No.  j,  at  Armrifcogan.  No.  5,  at  Souhegan,  eaft.  No.  6,  -.vilt  of  No.  2t 
and  Xo,  7,  was  not  then  located. 


WESTMINSTER.          227 

the  proprietors  concurred.  The  church  of  Chrifl 
in  this  place  was  formed,  and  the  Rev.  Elifha 
Marfh  was  ordained  their  firft  minifter  October 
2Oth,  1742.  Mr.  Marfh  continued  with  them  but 
a  few  years.  An  unhappy  controverfy  an  ling  be 
tween  him  and  the  people,  he  was  difmiffed  from  his  • 
paftoral  office,  1757.  Mr.  Marfh  was  afterwards 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  the  coun 
ty  of  Chefhire,  in  the  State  of  Newhamplhire  ;  and 
died  but  a  few  years  fince,  at  Lancafter,  being  on 
a  journey. 

The  town  remained  in  a  broken  ftate  until  Oc 
tober  i6th,  1765,  when  the  Rev.  Afaph  Rice  was 
confecrated  paftor,  the  fccond  in  fucceffion,  of  the 
church  and  congregation  here,  and  ftill  continues 
in  that  office  ;  and  in  peace  and  love  with  his 
people. 

Previoufly  to  his  fettlement  in  Weflminfler,  Mr. 
Rice  had  been  a  miflionary  among  the  Indians. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Marfh's  ordination,  the  place 
was  in  its  infancy,  few  in  number,  flruggling  for 
life,  and  expofed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  its 
population  went  on  flowly.  About  the  year  1743, 
the  General  Court  granted  4OO/.  to  fortify  the 
place,  with  which  ten  forts  were  erected,  and 
foldiers  ftationed  there  for  the  defence  of  the  inhab 
itants.  In  1746,  feme  of  the  people  of  the  place 
were  put  under  pay,  as  a  town  fcout.  From  1744, 
to  the  clofe  of  the  year  1748,  the  fettlers  met  with 
great  chfcouragements,  and  endured  fevere  trials, 
although  no  perfon  in  the  place  was  ever  cut  off 
by  the  enemy. 

After 


228  WESTMINSTER. 

After  that  period,  the  people  increafed,  and  the 
place  flouriQied  exceedingly,  f'o  that  in  the  fpace 
of  half  a  century,  notwithftanding  their  dangers, 
diftrefles  and  difficulties,  and  the  fmallnefs  of 
their  firft  number,  only  fifteeen  fouls,  they  have 
fpread  and  extended  their  branches,  and  covered 
the  town,  and  are  become  a  great  people,  as  at  this 
day  ;  having,  when  the  cenfus  was  taken  in  1791, 
177  dwelling  houfes,  and  1176  inhabitants.  The 
original  grant  was  fix  miles  i  qua  re  ;  however,  the 
meafure  was  rather  large,  for  by  actual  furvey,  in 
cluding  ponds,  rivers,  &c.  it  contained  27000 
acres  ;  but  of  late,  7000  acres  of  land,  with  the 
inhabitants  thereof,  were  fet  off  to  aid  in  forming 
the  town  of  Gardaer,  to  the  northweft.  This 
town  is  (Hll  large,  and  is  bounded  on  the  weft 
and  the  north  weft  by  Gardner,  on  the  north  by 
Afliburnham  ;  on  the  northeaft  by  Fitchburg  ;  on 
the  eaft,  by  fomc  farms  not  belonging  to  any  town; 
on  the  fouth  by  Princeton  ;  and  on  the  fouthwefl, 
by  Hubbardflon. 

Wefhninfler  is  fituated  on  the  height  of  land  be 
tween  the  rivers  Merrimack  and  Connecticut, 
having  flrcams  arifmg  in  the  town,  and  running 
into  both.  The  town  is  intciTperfed  with  hills 
r.no  valleys;  and  with  fprings,  brooks  and  rivu 
let.';,  very  convenient  for  watering  the  land,  and  for 
carrying  of  mills.  The  north.weft.erly  part  of 
Watchufett  hill  falls  within  the  limits  of  this.  town. 
I  what  is  called  the  middle  of  the  place,  or 
centre  of  the  town,  is  a  large  and  high  hill,  the 
top  of  which  is  ncavJv  level  ;  this  is  a  fcjuarc  of 

fix 


WESTMINSTER.          229 

irx  acres,  left  by  the  proprietors,  as  a  convenient 
place  for  a  training  field,  and  for  the  meeting- 
houfe.  A  little  north  of  the  centre  of  this  fquare 
Hands  their  new,  large  and  elegant  meetinghoufe, 
direclly  in  front  of  which  pafles  the  great  road 
from  Connecticut  River  to  Bofton.  At  the  fouth- 
eaft  angle  of  this  fquare  ftands  an  elegant  houfe 
belonging  to  the  Hon.  Judge  Gill  ;  on  the  wefter- 
ly  fide  of  the  fquare  ftands  the  minifter's  houfe. 
On  the  fides  of  this  fquare  are  (hops  well  ftored 
with  Englifh  and  Weftindia  goods.  In  the  town 
they  have  all  the  ufual  tradefmen  and  rne- 
chanicks.  Here  alfo  are  three  grift  mills,  three 
faw  mills,  one  oil  mill,  one  fulling  mill,  one 
clothiers'  works,  and  one  trip  hammer  ;  alfo  works 
for  cutting  nails,  and  works  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron  are  now  creeling.  The  foil  of  this  town  is 
ftrong,  rich  and  fertile  ;  the  high  lands  are  well 
ftored  wiih  ftones,  fuitable  and  fufHcient  for  wall 
ing  in  the  farms,  and  are  good  for  orcharding,  a^id 
almoft  all  kinds  of  fruit.  Here  are  lands  for  the 
various  purpofes  of  mowing,  ploughing  and  paftur- 
ing.  And  the  town  has  been,  and  ftill  is  well  fur- 
nimccl  with  wood.  The  high  lands  have  all  forts  « 
of  oak,  fome  chefnut,  fome  walnut,  which  is  in- 
creafing  ;  they  have  had  great  plenty  of  white 
pine,  which  is  chiefly  cut  off  ;  fome  yellow  and 
pitch  pine  :  The  low  lands  are  ftored  with  afh, 
beech,  birch,  maple,  and  hemlock. 

There  are  four  ponds  within  the  town,  one  called 
Watdiufett  Pond,  lies  at  the  foot  of  that  hill,  on 
the  northerly  fide.  The  line  of  the  town  croffes 

this 


WESTMINSTER. 

this  pond,  leaving  part  thereof  in  Princeton  ;  thi 
is  of  confiderable  bignefs,  and  well  replenished 
with  frefh  water  fifh.  A  ft  ream  i  flues  from  the 
northwefterly  end  of  this  pond,  and  runs  norther 
ly  through  the  eaftcrly  part  of  Weftminfler,  re 
ceiving  feveral  ftreams  in  its  courfe  ;  and  leaving 
the  town  it  runs  in  a  northeafterly  dire&ion  into 
Fitchburgh.  forming  a  confiderable  branch  of  the 
Nafhaway,  or  Lancafler  River.  Another  very 
fmall  ft  ream  runs  at  the  northeaft  corner  of  the 
pond,  and  running  foutheafterly  falls  intoaftrcam, 
rifing  out  of  a  large  body  of  meadow,  and  con 
tinuing  its  courfe,  empties  into  Stillwater  Rivci 
in  Sterling.  There  is  a  ftream  arifmg  in  another 
body  of  meadow  land,  which  falls  into  this  pond, 
on  its  fouthwefterly  fide.  This  pond  is  fed  and 
fupplied  chiefly,  perhaps  wholly,  by  fprings  and 
rivulets  ifluing  from  the  great  hill  Watchufett. 
There  is  another  large  pond,  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  in  front  of  the  hill,  on  which  the  meeting- 
houfe  (lands  ;  this  is  called  Long  Pond,  being  one 
mile  and  twelve  rods  in  length,  and  about  half  as 
much  in  width.  This  being  a  very  rocky  pond, 
is  not  well  furnifhcd  with  fifh.  No  conftant 
ftream  empties  into  this  pond:  A  fmall  ftream 
iflues  from  the  foutheafterly  corner  of  it,  and  run 
ning  eaftedy,  unites  with  the  ftream  which  runs 
out  of  Watchufett  Pond.  There  is  a  fmall  pond, 
in  the  cafterly  part  of  the  town,  called  GrafTy 
Pond,  into  which  there  is  no  vifible  inlet  :  There 
is  a  fmall  outlet,  which,  running  foutherly, 
falls  alfo  into  that  which  comes  from  Watchufett 

Pond, 


WESTMINSTER. 

Pond.  The  fourth  pond  is  in  the  northern  border 
of  the  town  :  No  ftream  of  any  confequence  runs 
into  it  ;  a  fmall  one  iffues  from  it,  and  running 
fouth,  falls  into  a  large  ftream,  which  rifes  in 
Weftminfter,  and  running  eafterly,  is  known  by 
the  name  of  North  River  ;  and  continuing  an  eaft- 
ern  direction,  unites  with  the  ftream  which  comes 
from  Watchufett  Pond.  There  is  another  ftream, 
called  the  Moft  Northerly  River,  which  rifes  in 
Afhburnham,  and  running  through  the  northerly 
part  of  Weftminfter,  receives  various  brooks  and 
rivulets  in  Weftminfter,  and  helps  to  form  the 
northerly  branch  of  the  river  Nalhaway.  The  laft 
ftream  which  deferves  our  notice,  is  called  Otter 
River,  which  ifluing  from  a  fwamp  or  low  land  in 
Hubbardfton,  runs  northerly,  through  the  wefter- 
ly  part  of  Weftminfter,  into  Gardner,  receiving 
feveral  ftreams  in  its  way,  then  turning,  runs  weft- 
erly  through  the  north  part  of  Templeton,  Athol, 
Warwick,  and  ihe  foutherly  part  of  Northfield,  and 
falls  into  Connecticut  River.  This  ftream  unites 
with  Miller's  River  in  Winchendon,  as  may  be  feen 
more  particularly  in  the  defcription  of  Templeton. 
Weftminfter  is  large,  and  become  populous, 
and  is  continually  increafing  in  number  and 
wealth.  It  is  fituated  about  fifty  five  miles  from 
Bofton,  a  little  to  the  north  of  weft,  and  about 
twenty  two  miles  from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcef- 
ter,  nearly  north, 


PRINCETON, 


23* 

PRINCETON. 

ON  the  20lh  of  October,  1759,  the 
General  Court  of  Maffachufetts  pafled  an  ad  for 
incorporating  the  eaft  wing,  fo  called,  of  Rutland, 
together  with  fundry  farms,  and  fome  publick 
lands,  contiguous  thereto  ;  and  gave  the  place  the 
name  of  Princeton,  to  perpetuate  the  riame  and 
memory  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  colleague 
paftor  of  the  old  fouth  church  in  Bofton,  and  a 
large  proprietor  of  this  traclof  land,  whofe  daugh 
ter  and  only  furviving  child  the  Hon.  Judge  Gill 
married  for  his  firft  wife. 

The  town  contained  about  19000  acres  :  And 
at  the  time  of  its  incorporation  there  were  about 
twenty  families  in  the  place.  It  was  in  the  month 
of  May,  in  the  year  1751,  ivhen  Mr.  Robert  Keyes, 
now  living,  removed  with  his  family  from 
Shrew fbury,  and  fixed  down  near  the  foot  of  Wat- 
chufett  hill,  on  the  eaft  fide,  being  the  fourth  fami 
ly  which  fettled  in  the  place.  Upon  the  i4th  of 
April,  1755.  a  child  of  his,  named  Lucy,  aged 
four  years  and  eight,  months,  attempting,  as  was 
fuppofcd,  to  follow  her  fillers,  who  had  gone  to 
chufett  Pond,  about  a  mile  diftant,  and  having 
nothing  but  marked  trees  to  guide  her,  wandered 
out  of  her  way  in  the  woods,  and  was  never  heard  of 
afterwards.  The  people  for  nearly  thirty  miles  round 
collected  immediately,  and  in  companies  traverf- 

ed 


PRINCETON.  233 

ed  the  woods,  day  after  day  and  week  after  week, 
fearching  for  her,  but  never  made  the  leaft  difcov- 
ery.  Many  journeys  were  taken  by  the  father,  in 
confequence  of  reports,  but  all  in  vain.  Various 
were,  and  have  been  the  conjectures  of  people  re- 
fpe6ting  the  fate  of  this  child.  Divers  concurring 
circumftances  render  the  following  moft  probable, 
that  {he  was  taken  by  the  Indians,  and  carried  into 
their  country,  and  foon  forgat  her  relations,  loft  her 
native  language,  and  became  as  one  of  the  aborigines. 

Let  us  return  to  Princeton.  The  people  who 
had  fettled  in  this  town  laboured  at  firft  under 
very  great  difficulties,  by  reafon  of  the  mountain 
ous,  rocky,  and  naturally  moift  ftate  of  their  lands, 
from  want  of  paffable  roads,  and  by  reafon  of  the 
prodigious  quantities  of  heavy  timber  with  which  the 
ground  was  covered,  (fure  indications  of  a  rich  and 
fertile  foil,)  however,  they  attended  to  their  roads, 
and  increafed  in  number,  and  on  the  3Oth  of  June, 
1762,  raifed  the  frame  of  their  prefent  meeting- 
houfe,  hired  preaching,  and  were  attentive  to  their 
religious  interefts. 

On  the  i2th  of  Auguft,  1764,  the  church  of 
Chrift  was  imbodied  in  this  town,  and  after  vari 
ous  fruitlefs  attempts  to  fettle  a  minifter,  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Fuller  was  ordained  their  firft  paftor  on 
the  gth  of  September,  1767.  In  about  eight  years 
a  general  difaffe&ion  to  Mr.  Fuller  took  place, 
which  ended  in  a  dilfolution  of  the  paftoral  rela 
tion  between  him  and  the  people  of  Princeton  on. 
the  igth  of  April,  1776.  Various  attempts  for  a 
refettlement  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  were  unfucceff- 

ful. 


PRINCEfdN. 

ful,  until  the  28th  of  June,  1786,  when  the 
Thomas  Crafts  vas  ordained  paftor  of  the  church 
and  flock  of  God  in  this  place.  In  the  fpace  of  a- 
bout  three  years,  Mr.  Crafts's  health  failed,  and  for 
nearly  two  years  he  was  unable  to  preach,  when  all 
hope  of  his  being  recovered,  fo  as  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  the  facred  miniftry  being  cut  off,  the  paf- 
toral  relation  between  him  and  his  people  was  am 
icably  diflfolved  at  his  fpecial  requeft,  on  the  1410 
of  March,  1791.  The  people  remain  without  a 
fettled  minifter. 

In  Princeton  they  have  a  very  handfome  focial 
library  eftabliflied,  of  the  valu£  of  upwards  of  jot. 
ten  pounds  whereof  were  given  by  the  Hon.  Judge 
Gill. 

In  a  little  more  than  thirty  years  from  its  incor 
poration,  Princeton  is  become  very  confiderable 
among  the  towns  of  the  county.  It  has  furprif- 
ingly  increafed  in  number  and  wealth.  When 
the  cenfus  was  taken  vi  179!;  there  were  144 
dwelling  houses,  and  1016  inhabitants  in  the 
place.  The  foil  being  excellent,  people  had  ev 
ery  encouragement  from  that  oonfideration,  to  fet 
tle  and  cultivate  the  lands;  and  their  farms  aremoft- 
ly  large  and  good.  The  land  is  naturally  moifl  and 
fpringy,  hilly  and  rocky,  exceedingly  well  adapted 
to  paRurage,  and  the  growth  of  Englifh  grafs  : 
Hence  the  Sneft  <#  beef  is  fatted  here,  and  vaft 
quantities  of  butter  and  cheefe  are  produced  in 
the  town  :  Some  parts  of  the  place  afford  grain 
in  plenty  ;  and  from  the  appearance  of  their  build 
ings  and  farms,  we  mull  judge  the  people  are  very 

induftrious. 


PRINCETON.  235 

induftrious.     Many  of  their  houfes  are  large  and 
elegant. 

This  leads  to  a  particular  mention,  that  in  this 
town  is  the  country  feat  of  the  Hon.  Mofes  Gill* 
Efq;  who  has  been  from  the  year  1775  one  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the 
county  of  "VVorcefter,  and  for  fevefral  years  a  Coun- 
fellor  of  this  Commonwealth.  His  noble  and  ele 
gant  feat  is  about  one  mile  and  a  quarter  from  tJie 
meetinghoufe,  to  the  fouth.  The  farm  contains 
upwards  of  3000  acres.  The  county  road  from 
Princeton  to  Worcefler  paiTes  through  it,  in  front 
of  the  houfe,  whiclj  faces  to  the  weft.  The  build 
ings  ftand  upon  the  higheft  land  of  the  whole 
farm  ;  but  it  is  level  round  about  them  for 
m-any  rods,  and  then  there  is  a  very  gradual  de- 
fcent.  The  lands  on  which  thefe  buildings  ftand, 
are  elevated  between  1200  and  1300  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  fea,  as  the  Hon.  James  Winthrop, 
Efq;  informs  me.  The  manfion  houfe  is  large, 
being  fifty  by  fifty  feet,  with  four  flacks  of  chim- 
nies  :  The  farm  houfe  is  forty  feet  by  thirty  fix  : 
In  a  line  with  this  ftand  the  coach  and  chaife 
houfe,  fifty  feet  by  thirty  fix  :  This  is  joined  to 
the  barn  by  a  fhed  feventy  feet  in  length — the 
barn  is  two  hundred  feet  by  thirty  two.  Very 
elegant  fences  are  erected  around  the  manfion, 
houfe,  the  outhoufes,  and  the  garden. 

The  profpecl:   from  this   feat  is  extenfive  and 

grand,  taking  in  an  horizon  to  the  eaft,  of  feventy 

miles  at  leaft.     The  blue  hills  in  Milton,  are  dif- 

cernable  with  the  naked  eye,  from  the  windows  of 

Q  %  this 


236  PRINCETON. 

this  fuperb  edifice,  diftant  not  lefs  than  fixty 
mi^s  j  as  alfo  the  waters  in  the  harbour  of  Bof- 
ton,  at  certain  feafons  of  the  year.  When  we 
view  this  feat,  thefe  buildings,  and  this  farm  of  fo 
many  hundred  acres,  now  under  a  high  degree  of 
profitable  cultivation,  and  are  told  that  in  the 
year  1766  it  was  a  perfeft  wildernefs,  we  arc 
ftruck  with  wonder,  admiration  and  aftoniihment. 
The  honourable  proprietor  hereof  muft  have  great 
fa'isfa£Hon  in  contemplating  tbefe  improvements, 
fo  extcnfive,  made  under  his  direction,  and  I  may 
add,  by  his  own  active  induftry.  Judge  Gill  is  a 
gentleman  of  fingular  vivacity  and  activity,  and 
indefatigable  in  his  endeavours  to  bring  forward 
the  cultivation  of  his  lands  ;  of  great  and  effential 
fervice,  by  his  example,  in  the  employment  he  finds 
for  fo  many  perfons,  and  in  all  his  attempts  to 
feive  the  interefb  of  the  place  where  he  dwells, 
and  in  his  ads  of  private  munificence,  and  pub- 
lick  generofity,  and  deferves  great  refpecl:  and  ef- 
teem,  not  only  from  individuals,  but  from  the  town 
and  country  he  has  fo  greatly  benefited,  and  ef- 
pecially  by  the  ways  in  which  he  makes  ule  of 
that  vaft  cHate  wherewith  a  kind  Providence  has 
bleifed  him.  Upon  the  whole,  this  feat  of  Judge 
Gill,  all  the  agreeable  circumfV  nces  refpe&ing  it 
being  attentively  conndered,  is  not  paralleled  by 
any  in  the  Nc«vcngland  States  ;  perhaps  not  by 
any  on  this  fide  the  Delaware. 

Return  we  to  our  more  general  description  of 
Princeton.  Having  (aid  the  foil  is  rich,  ftrong, 
and  very  prcdu&ivc  ;  it  is  to  be  added,  the 

growth 


PRINCETON.  237 

growth  of  wood  is  oak  of  the  various  kinds,  chefnut, 
white  afh,  beech,  black  birch,  and  maple  ;  and 
near  the  Watchufett  hills,  fome  butternut  is  to  be 
feen,  as  alfo  fome  walnut,  which  will  undoubtedly 
increafe  and  fpread. 

The  hills  of  Princeton  merit  a  particular  de- 
fcription  ;  they  are  three.  Firft,  Pine  Hill,  litu- 
ated  about  two  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  towrt, 
contains  perhaps  about  thirty  acres,  and  is  moft- 
ly  unimproveable  ;  but  its  bowels  afford  a  very 
great  quantity  of  moft  excellent  ftones  for  build 
ings,  &c. 

Thefecond,  is  Little  Watchufett  Hill,  this  is  fit- 
uated  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  perhaps  half  a 
mile  diftant,  to  the  northward.  This  contains 
237  acres,  chiefly  pafturing  ;  though  fome  parts 
of  it,  being  ledgy  and  mountainous,  are  unim 
proveable. 

The  third,  is  the  Great  Watchufett  Hill,  or 
Mountain.  This  is  fituated  about  two  miles  from 
Princeton  meetinghoufe,  to  the  north  ;  the  north- 
weflerly  part  hereof  falls  within  the  limits  of 
Weftminfter.  This  is  an  exceedingly  high  moun 
tain,  and  is  fome  of  the  firft  land  difcovered  by 
people  on  board  veflels  at  fea,  when  making  for 
any  of  the  fea  ports  in  Maffachufetts  ;  and  it  is 
to  be  feen  from  the  higher  lands,  in  a  greater  part 
of  the  towns  in  the  Commonwealth,  efpecially  in 
thofe  between  the  fea  and  Connecticut  river.  It 
contains  feven  or  eight  hundred  acres  ;.  about  four 
hundred  acres  of  whioh  beitig  the  fummit,  and  be 
ing  province  land,  were  given  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Q  3  Fuller, 


«38  PRINCETON. 

Fuller,  by  the  General   Court,   in  confideration 
that  he  was  the  firft  minifter,  and  fettled  upon  a 
fmall  falary,  in  the  infancy  of  the  town.     This 
was  no  trifling  gift ;  for  although  one  hundred 
acres  of  it  be  worth  little  or  nothing,  yet  mod  of 
the  remaining  three  hundred  acres  will  make  con- 
fiderable  pafture  land,  and  fome  parts  very  good. 
The  highefl  part  of  the  mountain  is  a  flat  rock,  or 
a  ledge  of  rocks,  for  fome  rods  round,  and  there  is 
a  fmall  pond  of  water  generally  upon  the  top  of 
it,  of  two  or  three  rods  fquare ;  and  where  there  is 
any  earth,  it  is  covered  with  blueberry   bufhes 
for  acres  round  ;  and  as  you  defcend  the    hill, 
there  are  very  low  and  fmall  trees,  with  flat  tops, 
like  thofe  on  the  fea  more,  occafioned  no  doubt, 
in  part,  by  the  ftate  of  the  air  ;  for  it  is  feveral 
degrees  colder,  at  any  time,  on  the  top  than  at  the 
bottom  of  the  mountain  ;  the  further  you  defcend, 
the  taller  are  the  trees,  until  they  become  of  the 
common  fize.     Upon  the  foutherly   fide   of  this 
lirll  it  may  be  afcended  to  the  very   top  with  hor- 
fes,  but  upon  the  eaft,  north  and  northweft,  it  is 
very  fteep,  broken  and  ledgy  ;  and  many  acres  ut 
terly  unimpraveable  any  way  at  prefent.     Perhaps 
its  bowels  may  contain  very  valuable  hid  treafure, 
which  in    fome  future   period   may  be    defcried. 
There  are  very  confiderable  improvements  upon 
fome  fides  of  this  hill  near  the  bottom  of  it,  and 
fome  very  valuable  lands  yet  uncultivated.     The 
circumference  of  this   monflrous    mafs  is   about 
three  miles,  and  its  height  is  3012  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  fea;  as  was  found  by  the  Hon.  John 

Winthrop, 


PRINCETON.  239 

Winthrop,  Efq;  L.  L.  D.  in  the  year  1777  :  And 
this  muft  be  1800  or  1900  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  adjacent  country. 

This  town  is  exceedingly  well  watered  by 
fprings  and  rivulets,  as  is  generally  the  cafe  with 
hilly,  rocky  land  ;  but  there  are  no  ftreams  of 
any  great  bignefs,  although  feveral  large  and  fine 
rivers  have  their  fources  here.  One  branch  of  the 
Naftiavay  begins  at  the  foot  of  Watchufett  Hill, 
and  runs  through  Sterling  and  Boylfton  to  Lan- 
cafter.  Pifs  River,  fo  called,  fprings  up  at  the  foot 
of  this  mountain,  on  the  wefterly  fide,  and  runs 
through  Hubbardfton,  and  joins  Ware  River. 
There  are  feveral  places  in  the  town  where  fprings 
iffue  and  the  waters  divide,  running  fomeinto  Mer- 
rimack,  fonte  into  Connecticut  river.  There  is 
but  little  meadow  land  in  Princeton,  when  com 
pared  with  towns  in  general,  but  there  are  confid- 
erable  traces  of  interval  which  affbrd  good  hay  ; 
however,  the  greatefl  part  of  their  hay  is  produced 
from  upland  mowing.  There  are  two  ponds  on 
ly  in  this  town,  or  rather  a  part  of  two  :  Watchu 
fett  Pond,  about  three  miles  north  from  the  meet- 
inghoufe,  at  the  north  end  of  that  mountain  ;  it 
covers  about  one  hundred  acres,  only  about  twen 
ty  of  which  are  in  Princeton,  the  greater  part  in 
Weftminfter.  It  is  fed  by  fprings  from  the  hill ; 
its  outlet  is  in  Weftminfter.  Quinepoxet  Pond 
is  fituated  in  the  fouthweft  part  of  the  town,  fome 
of  which  falls  within  the  limits  of  Holden.  It 
contains  perhaps  feventy  or  eighty  acres.  Its  in 
lets  are  feveral  fmall  ftreams  ;  its  outlet  is  the 
Q  4  River 


$40  T  E  M  P  L  E  T  O  N. 

River  Ouinepoxet,  as  defcribed  in  the  account  of 
Holden.  In  Princeton  there  are  four  grift  mills, 
five  faw  mills,  and  one  fulling  mill,  and  clothiers" 
works.  This  town  is  fituated  fifty  two  miles  from 
Bofton,  about  due  weft  ;  and  fifteen  miles  from 
the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter,  nearly  north,  and 
bounded  on  the  north,  by  Weftminfter  ;  on  the 
eaft,  by  Sterling  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Holden  ;  on 
the  fouthweft,  by  Rutland ;  and  on  the  weft,  by 
Hubbardfton. 


TEMP    L-    ETON. 

1  HIS  was  an  original  grant  to  cer 
tain  perfons  who  did  fervice  in  what  was  called 
the  Narraganfet,  or  King  Philip's  war,  or  to  their 
heirs,  and  was  accordingly  known  by  the  name  of 
Narraganfet  No.  6,  until  its  incorporation,  March 
6th,  1762,  when  the  name  Templeton  was  given  to 
it.  The  firft  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  this 
traft  of  land  was  held  at  Concord  O&ober  29th, 
1733.  The  grant  was  defigned  to  include  as 
much  as  fix  miles  fquare,  but  the  meafure  was  made 
rather  large.  Its  fettlement  was  greatly  retarded 
through  danger  from  the  Indians,  in  that  then  in 
fant  ftate  of  this  part  of  the  country  ;  and  efpec- 
ially  in  the  French  war,  in  the  years  from  1740, 
to  1746.  After  that  period  inhabitants  came  in 

very 


T  E  M  P  L  E  T  O  N. 

very  faft,  Co  that  a  church  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  was  gathered  here  December  loth,  1755, 
anjl  the  fame  day  the  Rev.  Daniel  Pond  was  or 
dained  to  'the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  in  this 
place  :  He  continued  in  the  facred  office  not  four 
years,  being  difmififed  by  advice  of  an  ecclefiafti- 
cal  council,  Auguft  2d,  1759.  He  was  fucceed- 
ed  by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Sparhawk,  who  was  fep- 
arated  unto  that  high  and  holy  calling  on  the  i8th 
of  November,  1761,  who  flill  continues  faithfully 
ferving  God  in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son. 

This  town  flourifhed  and  increafed  fo  faft,  and 
not  lying  in  the  beft  fhape  to  coatinue  one  relig 
ious  fociety,  it  was  divided  into  two  pariflies,  Feb 
ruary  i6th,  1774.  The  new  or  fecond  parifh  lay 
on  the  weft  fide,  and  being  foon  after  made  a  dif- 
tincT:  town,  we  mall  leave  it  for  the  prefent,  and 
proceed  in  our  defcription  of  Templeton.  Al 
though  this  town  is  not  a  level,  champaign  tract 
of  land,  yet  it  is  not  fo  uneven  as  many  ;  it  has 
no  remarkable  hills  or  eminences  diftinguifhed 
by  particular  names,  except  one  on  the  fouth  fide 
towards  Hubbardfton,  called  Mine  Hill,  from  its 
abounding  in  good  iron  ore  ;  and  fuppofed  alfo 
to  be  rich  in  other  more  valuable  mines  and  min 
erals  ;  this  was  granted  to  a  Capt.  Andrew  Robin- 
fon,  of  Gloucefter,  fome  time  before  the  original 
grant  of  the  townfhip  ;  it  was  foon  fold,  and  now 
a  great  number  of  perfons  have  a  right  therein  : 
it  is  a  long,  rocky  hill,  and  very  fteep  on  one  fide. 

There  is  but  one  pond  in  the  town,  and  that  is 
fmall,  in  the  fouth  part,  from  whence  there  is  an 

outlet, 


842  TEMPLETON. 

outlet,  on  which  are  mills,  this  forms  what  is  call- 
ed  Otter  River,  on  which  are  clothiers'  works,  and 
where  thebufinefs  is  well  and  profitably  carried  on. 
This  river  runs  foutherly  into  a  corner  of  Hub- 
bardfton,  then  turning  northeaft,  runs  back  into 
Templeton  again,  and  through  an  angle  of  Gard 
ner,  where  feveral  ftreams  join  it.  It  is  fome  way 
a  boundary  between  Gardner  and  Templeton  ; 
then  it  takes  a  northwefterly  courfe  in  Templeton, 
and  is  joined  by  Trout  Brook  ;  and  from  thence 
running  through  an  angle  of  Winchendon,  there 
falls  into  Miller's  River.  The  main  branch  of  the 
river  Burnfliirt,  fo  called,  rifes  from  a  pond  on  the 
cafterly  fide  of  Gerry,  at  its  northeaft  end,  and 
runs  through  meadows  to  the  foutheaft,  where 
there  are  good  mills,  and  within  the  bounds  of 
Templeton,  joins  the  eafterly  branch  of  Burnfliirt, 
and  foon  after  becomes  a  boundary  between  Tem 
pleton  and  Gerry,  for  almoft  two  miles  ;  and  then 
runs  through  a  corner  of  Hubbardflon  into  Barre, 
where  it  unites  with  Ware  River.  Conneyftow, 
another  ftream,  riling  from  fprings  in  the  fouth 
part  of  this  town,  runs  foutherly  into  Hubbard- 
fton,  where  are  mills,  and  then  falls  into  Burnfliirt. 
On  thefe  ftreams  and  rivers  there  are  excellent 
meadow  and  interval  lands. 

The  general  growth  of  wood  in  the  town  is  of  the 
following  kinds,  oak,  chefnut,  white  and  pitch 
pine,  afh,  beech  and  birch  ;  walnut,  within  a  few 
years,  has  fprung  up,  and  is  fpreading.  The  lands 
are  rich  and  good  in  general,  producing  all  forts 
of  grain,  and  yield  pafturage  and  grafs  in  great 

plenty. 


A    T    H    O    Lv  243 

plenty.  In  this  town  the  bufinefs  of  making  pot- 
afh  is  carried  on.  Here  are  the  ufual  neceffary 
tradefmen  ;  but  the  inhabitants  chiefly  fubfift  by 
the  cultivation  of  their  lands,  and  area  profperous 
and  flouriming  people.  This  town  is  fituated 
about  fixty  miles  from  Bofton,  a  little  to  the  north 
of  weft  ;  and  is  twenty  eight  miles  from  the  court- 
houfe  in  Worcefter,  a  little  to  the  weft  of  north. 

The  number  of  its  inhabitants  was  950,  when 
the  general  cenfus  was  taken  in  1791. 

Templeton  is  bounded  on  the  weft,  by  Gerry ; 
on  the  north,  by  Winchendon  ;  on  the  eaft,  by 
Gardner  ;  and  on  the  fouth,  by  Hubbardfton  ; 
and  contains  ftill  about  17000  acres  of  land,  not- 
withftanding  the  greater  part  of  Gerry,  and  a  part 
of  Gardner  was  taken  from  it. 


A      T      H      O      L. 


Vv  HEN  the  grant  of  this  townfhip 
was  made  by  the  General  Court,  cannot  now  be 
afcertained,  as  the  firft  proprietors'  book  was  fome 
years  ago  loft.  The  prefent  book  has  recorded 
that  the  original  proprietors,  being  fixty  in  num 
ber,  met  at  Concord  June  26,  1734,  and,  in  the 
prefence  of  a  committee  of  the  General  Court, 
whereof  the  Hon.  William  Dudley  was  chairman, 

drew 


A     T    H     O    L. 

drew  their  houfe  lots  in  the  townfhip  of  Pequiog,- 
or  Payquage,  as  the  natives  called  the  place  at 
that  time  ;  and  by  this  appellation  it  was  known 
in  all  publick  a&s  and  records  until  its  incorpora 
tion  by  an  aft  of  the  Legislature,  on  the  6th  of 
March,  1762,  when  it  received  the  name  of  Athol. 
This  traft  was  a  feat  for  the  Indians,  and  at  the 
time  of  its  being  granted,  was  a  frontier  townfhip, 
and  greatly  expofed  ;  and  the  fettlement  of  the 
place  was  obftru6led  by  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  which  commenced  in  1744,  and  continued 
feveral  years.  Previously  to  the  breaking  out  of  that 
war,  feveral  families  had  feated  themfelves  here, 
but  they  were  greatly  diftrefled  with  fear,  by  rea- 
fon  of  the  Indians  ;  they  were  obliged,  as  other  in 
fant  plantations,  to  live  in  garrifons  for  feveral 
years,  and  to  labour  at  their  various  occup'ations 
with  their  military  armour  by  them.  Although 
this  place  was  thus  expofed,  yet  I  cannot  find  that 
any  perfons  were  killed  here,  except  a  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Wallingford,  who  being  on  fome  occafion  at  a 
diftance  from  his  garrifon,  was  difcovered  by  the 
enemy  ;  and  feeing  them,  he  turned  to  run  to  the 
fort,  but  was  flopped  fhortby  a  fatal  ball,  Auguft, 
1746.  In  the  month  of  April,  the  year  following, 
a  Mr.  Jafon  Badcock  was  taken  captive  by  the  In 
dians,  and  carried  to  Canada  :  From  whence  he 
returned  in  a  few  months. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  Athql  was  imbodied 

le    prefence,  and   under   the  countenance  of 

three  neighbouring  paftors  and   churches,  Auguft 

29th,  1750  ;  and   the  Rev.  James  Humphrey  was 

confecrated 


A    T    H    O    L.  245 

confecrated  their  firft  paftor  on  the  jih  of  No 
vember  following.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey,  af 
ter  ferving  the  church  and  people  of  this  place 
faithfully  upwards  of  thirty  one  years,  was,  at  his 
requeft,  difmified  from  his  paftoral  relation  to 
them  on  the  igth  of  February,  1782,  on  thefe  con 
ditions,  viz.  The  inhabitants  voted  to  free  his  per- 
fon  and  eilate  from  all  kinds  of  taxes  during  his 
natural  life  ;  and  gave  to  him  and  his  heirs  a  good 
pew  in  the  prefent  rneetinghoufe,  fo  long  as  it 
Ihould  ftand. 

The  town  remained  deftitute  of  a  fettled  paftor 
until  November  2ift,  1787,  when  the  Rev.  Jofeph 
Eftabrook,  was  folemnly  feparatcd  unto  the  work 
of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  as  fucceflbr  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Humphrey. 

There  are  about  ten  families  of  ahabaptifts  in 
this  town,  but  there  is  no  church,  nor  any  ftated 
teacher  of  this  denomination  in  the  place  :  There 
are  alfo  three  families  of  univerfalifts,  and  one  of 
epifcopalians  here. 

We  mall  now  go  on  to  fome  Geographical  De- 
fcription  of  Athpl.  This  townfhip  was  originally 
granted  to  fixty  proprietors,  with  a  referve  of  a 
right  of  land  for  the  firft  fettled  minifter,  a  right 
for  the  ufe  of  the  miniftry,  and  one  for  a  fchool  : 
It  was  to  contain  as  much  as  fix  miles  fquare.  A 
part  of  the  town  was  fet  off,  at  the  foutheaft  angle, 
to  aid  in  forming  the  town  of  Gerry,  and  a  part  at 
the  northweft  corner,  to  help  form  the  diftricl:  of 
Orange  ;  but  ftill  the  town  of  Athol  is  more  than 
five  miles  fquare,  and  contains  1 6000  acres  of  land. 

It 


A    T    H    O    L. 

It  is  very  uneven,  rocky,  and  hilly,  though  there 
are  no  famous  or  remarkable   hills   in  the  place  ; 
nor  any  with  names,  except  one  in  the  eafl  part  of 
the  town,  called  Walnut  Hill,  from  the  confiderable 
quantity    of  walnut   wood  and   timber    growing 
thereon.     The  foil  of  this  town  is  not  fo  good  as 
fome  :  It  is  rather  cold,  confequently  not  extraor 
dinary  for  grain  of  any  kind,  for  orcharding,  or  for 
mowing  :  It  is  faid   to  be  very   good  for  grazing  ; 
and   much  beef  is   annually   fatted    in  the  place. 
There  is  fome  pitch  pine   plain  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town  ;  there  is  alfo  confiderable  white  pine 
remaining  in  the  wefterly  part  of  the  place  ;  but 
oak,  chefnut,  am,  beech,  birch,  hemlock,  and  ma 
ple,  conflitute  the  principal  growth  of  wood.     The 
town  has  its  full  mare  of  water.    Miller's  River,  fo 
called  by    the  Englifh,    in  confequence  of  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Miller,  who  was  drowned  herein, 
well  towards   a  hundred  years  ago,    in  attempting 
to  pafs  this   river  in  his   way  to  Northfield  :  But 
the  natives  called  it  Payquage   or  Bayquage — this 
river  is  large,  and  its   current  in  many  places  rap 
id  ;    it    comes    into    Athol    in    the    northeafterly 
quarter   of    the   town,    and    pafllng    within    half 
a  mile  of  the  meetinghoufe,   it   runs  wefterly   in 
to  Connecticut  River  ;  in  the  fouthweflerly  part  of 
Athol,  there   is  fome  good  meadow  on  this   river. 
The  next  flream  for  bignefs  is  Tully  Brook  ;  (or 
rather  River  if  its  appellation  had  not  been  eftab- 
liflied)   this    has  its  origin    in  Fitzwilliam   in  the 
State  of  Newhampfhire,  comes  through   Royalfton 
into  the  northerly  part  of  Athol,  and  joins  Miller's 

River 


A    T    H    O    L.  247 

River  about  one  mile  northweft  from  the  meeting- 
houfe.  On  this  ftream,  and  after  the  junction,  there 
are  fome  very  good  meadows.  Mill  Brook,  fo  call 
ed  from  its  having  upon  it  many  convenient  feats 
for  mills,  rifes  from  various  fprings  in  the  fouth- 
eafterly  part  of  the  town,  and  runs  northwefterly, 
and  falls  into  Miller's  River  in  the  weft  part  of 
Athol .  Jn  the  foutheafterly  part  of  the  town  rifes 
a  brook  fufficient  to  carry  mills,  which  runs  to  a 
pond  of  thirty  acres  or  more,  which  the  line  be 
tween  Newfalem  and  Athol  croffes  in  the  fouth- 
weft  part,  and  from  this  pond  there  is  an  outlet 
which  runs  north,  and  empties  into  Miller's  River. 
There  is  alfo  another  pond  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town,  from  whence  there  is  an  outlet  into  Tully 
Brook  :  This  is  fmall,  covering  perhaps  twenty  or 
thirty  acres. 

Upon  the  rivers  and  flreams  abovementioned, 
there  are  in  the  town,  four  grift  mills,  fix  faw 
mills,  one  fulling  mill,  and  one  trip  hammer.  We 
muft  not  omit  to  mention,  there  is  a  very  fine 
fpring  in  this  town,  which  iffues  out  of  a  high 
bank  upon  the  fide  of  Miller's  River,  (perhaps 
twenty  feet  above  the  furface  of  the  river)  the  wa 
ter  whereof  is  medicinal.  Many  perfons  who  have 
drank  freely  thereof,  have  found  it  operate  as  a 
gentle  cathartick ;  and  fome  who  have  been  poifon- 
ed,  have  been  fpeedily  cured  by  wafhing  the  parts 
affected  therewith.  Several  who  have  been  afflict 
ed  with  rheumatick  complaints,  bathed  in  the  wa 
ters  of  this  fpring,  in  a  ciftern,  fome  few  years  ago 
provided  to  receive  them,  and  found  g*eat  relief. 

And 


«48  O    A     K     H     A    M. 

And  what  is  worthy  of  notice  is  this,  thefe  waters 
have  the  fame  efficacy  and  virtue  without  foap,  in 
wafliing  of  perfons,  which  other  waters  have  with. 
We  clofc  the  account  of  Athol  with  faying,  it  is 
ikuatcd  in  the  northweftern  extremity  of  the  coun 
ty,  about  thirty  five  miles  from  the  courthoufc 
in  Worcefter,  to  the  northweft,  and  from  Boflon 
it  is  feventy  two  miles,  a  little  to  the  north  of  weft. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Royalfton  ;  on  the 
raft,  by  Gerry  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Peter fham  ;  on 
the  fouthweit,  by  Newfalem  ;  and  on  the  north- 
weft,  by  Orange.  The  number  of  inhabitants  in 
this  town,  when  the  cenfus  was  taken,  was  850. 


O      A      K      H      A      M. 

1  HE  whole  of  this  town  was  includ 
ed  in  that  traft  of  land  of  twelve  miles  fquare, 
which  was  purchafed  of  the  Indians,  confirmed  to 
the  petitioners,  and  called  Rutland,  in  the  year 
1713.  After  the  town  of  Rutland  was  incorporat 
ed,  this  part  was  called  Rutland  Weft  Wing,  until 
the  year  1759,  when  the  inhabitants  had  certain 
privileges  granted  them,  and  thr  place  was  called 
the  Prccintt  of  Rutland  Weft  Wing,  until  its  in 
corporation  by  an  a 61  of  the  Legislature,  June  yth, 
1762,  when  the  name  of  Oafcham  was  given  to  it. 

The 


O     A    K     H     A     M.  249 

The  church  of  Chrifl  in  this  place  was  imbodi- 
ed,  in  prefbyterian  form,  Auguft  28th,  1767,  and 
the  Rev.  John  Strickland  was  ordained   their  paf- 
tor,  April    ift,  1768.      He  was   difmiffed  by  the 
prefbytery,  and  a  vote  of  the  town,  June  2d,  1773. 
After  Mr.  Strickland's   removal,  the  prefbyterian 
church  was  diffolved,  and  a  church  on  the  congre 
gational  plan  was  imbodied,  June  23$,  1773,  and 
the  Rev.  Daniel   Tomlinfon  was  feparated  to  the 
work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  among  them,  June  22d, 
1786.     Mr.  Strickland  removed  from  Oakham  to 
Nottinghajnwefl,   in  the  State  of  Newhampmire, 
where  he  was  inflalled,  and  continued  a  number  of 
years  ;  from  thence  he  was  difmiffed,  and  remov 
ed  to  Turner,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  and 
the  diftricl;   of  Maine,  where  he  is  again  fettled  in 
the  prefbyterian  mode. 

In  Oakham  they  have  a  focial  library  eftablifhed, 
containing  towards  fixty  volumes. 

The  reader  fhall  now  be  prefented  with  fome 
Geographical  Defcription  of  Oakham. 

Although  the  fljape  of  the  town  is  not  an  exa6fc 
fquare,  yet  it  contains  about  four  miles  and  an. 
half  fquare  ;  and  it  is  bounded  by  Rutland,  on  the 
eaft  ;  by  Barre,  on  the  north  and  northweft  ;  by 
Newbraintree,  on  the  weft  and  fouthweft  ;  and  by- 
Spencer,  on  the  fouth  and  foutheaft.  The  gener 
al  face  of  the  town  is  hilly  and  flony.  The  nat 
ural  foil  is  not  inferior  perhaps  to  that  of  the 
neighbouring  towns  in  general  ;  but  not  being 
fettled  fo  early  as  Rutland,  it  was  greatly  injured 
fcy  fires.  The  firft  fettlcrs  of  Rutland  ufed  to  fet 
,R  fires 


25o  O     A     K     H     A     M. 

fires  in  Oakham  annually,  or  frequently,  and  then 
turn  their  cattle  thither  to  feed  through  the  fum- 
mer  feafon.  There  are  no  remarkable  hills,  nor 
any  extenfive  plains  in  the  town.  The  produce 
is,  Indian  corn,  wheat,  rye,  flax,  &c.  &c.  and 
whatever  is  common  to  this  country.  The  kind  is 
w^ll  adapted  to  orcharding,  and  all  kinds  of  fruit 
trees  ;  for  it  is  high,  fweet,  and  in  general  not  ex- 
pofed  to  frofts.  The  growth  of  wood  and  timber 
is  oak  of  all  forts,  abounding  efpecially  in  white 
oak,  walnut,  chefnut,  and  whatever  is  common  to 
the  high  and  low  lands  in  other  towns. 

Some  parts  of  the  town  are  high  and  rather 
dry  ;  nevertheless,  the  lands  bear  a  drought  well  ; 
and  in  general  there  are  fufficient  fprings,  rivulets, 
and  flreams  of  water.  There  is  one  river  which 
has  its  fource  in  theeafterly  part  of  the  town,  call 
ed  Five  Mile  River ;  it  runs  from  the  north  to  the 
fouth  ;  it  is  not  large,  yet  there  is  one  com,  and 
one  faw  mill  (landing  thereon  in  the  foutherly 
part  of  the  town ;  and  on  this  ftream  there  is  fome 
meadow  land.  The  northerly  part  of  Oakham 
borders  on  and  near  a  river,  which  is  large, 
called  Ware  River  ;  oji  this  there  is  fome  little  in 
terval  and  meadow  land.  There  is  but  one  other 
meadow  in  the  town  of  any  confiderable  bfgnefs  ; 
this  is  fituated  about  a  mile  foutheaft  from  the 
meetinghoufe,  and  is  known  by  the  name  of 
Clammour  Meadow.  In  the  northeafterly  part  of 
this  town,  near  to  Rutland,  is  fituated  Muddy 
Pond,  fo  called,  not  large  ;  from  this  pond  i flues 
a  (Iream,  which  running  from  the  foutheaft  to  the 

northweft, 


O    A     K     H     A     M.  251 

TLorthweft,  falls  into  Ware  River  ;  on  this  ftream 
there  are  two  faw  mills. 

There  is  a  large  pond,  called  Browning's  Pond, 
fituated  in  the  foutheafterly  quarter  of  this  town, 
and  lies,  partly  in  Rutland  and  partly  in  Spencer, 
but  the  greater  part  in  Oakham.  To  this  there  is 
an  inlet,  and  at  the  fouth  end  an  outlet  which  runs 
into  Spencer,  and  fo  to  Quaboag  River.  Thefe 
ponds  and  ftreams  are  well  ftored  with  fim. 

There  are  feveral  roads  through  different  parts 
of  the  town  ;  one  through  the  north  angle  of  the 
town,  leading  from  Peterfham  to  Rutland  and 
Worcefter  ;  another  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
meetinghoufe,  leading  from  Rutland  to  Hardwick; 
another  which  leads  from  Rutland  to  Brookfield, 
pafling  about  half  a  mile  eaft  of  the  meetinghoufe  ; 
another  leading  from  Newbraintree  to  Worcefter, 
called  the  New  County  Road ;  this  runs  near  the 
fouth  fide  of  the  town. 

This  town  is  fituated  fifteen  miles  from  Wor 
cefter  courthoufe,  a  little  to  the  northweft  ;  and 
from  Bofton  it  is  diftant  fixty  two  miles,  nearly 
weft.  When  the  cenfus  was  taken  there  were  772 
inhabitants  in  the  town. 


FITCHBURG, 


FITCHBURG. 

1  HIS  plac*  was  originally  a  part  of 
the  town  of  Lunenburg,  and  wholly  included  in 
the  grant  made  to  the  proprietors  of  Turkey  Hill. 
It  was  made  a  diftinft  and  feparate  town  on  the 
3d  of  February,  1764.  A  part  of  Fitchburg,  to 
the  north,  was  fet  off  in  the  year  1767,  to  aid  in 
forming  the  town  of  Afhby,  in  the  county  of  Mid- 
dlefex.  It  is  now  bounded  by  Afhburnham  and 
Afhby,  on  the  north  and  northweft  ;  by  Lunenburg, 
on  the  eaft  ;  by  Leominfler,  on  the  fouth  and 
foutheafl ;  and  by  Weflminfter,  on  the  weft  and 
fouthweft. 

This  is  a  very  hilly  and  uneven,  but  fertile 
town.  On  the  eaftern  part  it  is  not  fo  very  une 
ven,  refembling  Lunenburg,  from  whence  it  was 
taken  ;  but  in  the  other  parts  of  the  town,  the 
hills  are  large,  high,  and  deep  ;  however,  on  them 
there  is  not  much  broken,  poor  and  wafte  land.  In 
general  the  foil  is  excellent ;  and  the  town  in 
many  refpe&s  is  fuperior  to  Lunenburg.  By  the 
late  cenfus  the  dwelling  houfes  were  found  to 
be  166,  and  the  inhabitants  1151,  fpread  over  a 
territory  not  much  exceeding  1 3000  acres.  Mofl 
of  the  people  live  in  comfortable  and  eafy  circum- 
flances,  poficfling  all  the  necelfaries,  and  many  of 
the  conveniences  of  life.  They  are  induftrious, 
and  having  a  good  foil  to  labour  upon,  live  inde 
pendent,  and,  for  an  inland  town,  feveral  families 

among 


F  I  T  C  H  B  U  R  G.  253 

among  them  may  juftly  be  deemed  rich.  The 
people  near  the  meetinghoufe  are  fettled  pretty 
thick,  and  there  much  bufinefs  of  various  kinds  is 
performed:  For  here  runs,  a  few  rods  fouth  of 
the  meetinghoufe,  the  north  branch  of  Nafliaway 
River.  One  part  of  this  river  comes  from  Afh- 
burnham,  the  other  part  from  Watchufett  Pond  ; 
thefe  unite  a  little  weft  of  Fitchburg  meetinghoufe. 
After  this  junftion,  and  juft  below  the  meet 
inghoufe,  there  is  one  corn  mill,  one  faw  mill,  one 
fulling  mill,  one  clothier's  works,  one  trip  ham 
mer,  and  works  for  grinding  fcythes  :  Thefe  occa- 
fion  a  great  refort  of  people  there  to  tranfaft  their 
various  concerns.  A  little  fouthweft  from  the 
meetinghoufe,  is  a  high,  rocky  hill,  covered  prin 
cipally  with  pine,  called  Rollftone  Hill.  Here  alfo 
is  a  hill,  ufually  denominated  Pearl  Hill,  and  is 
compofed  of  a  rock  of  a  peculiar  quality,  not 
common  in  this  part  of  the  country.  It  produces 
ifmglafs,  or  talc,  in  great  plenty.  The  appear 
ance  encourages  a  hope  that  there  are  valuable 
mines,  either  of  gold  or  filver,  or  both,  imbofom- 
ed  there.  Attempts  have  heretofore  been  made  to 
explore  and  pofiefs  them  ;  but  for  want  of  wealth 
or  perfeverance  in  the  undertakers,  they  have  nofe 
obtained  the  defiderata.  Alt  valuable  mines  in 
this  part  of  the  world,  as  in  moft  other  parts,  lie 
deep  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  much  labour 
is  neceffary  to  reach  them.  In  the  prefent  ftate  of 
our  population,  riches,  in  thefe  northern  parts,  are 
with  much  greater  facility  procured  from  the  fur- 
face  of  the  earth,  by  the  various  inftruments  of 
R  3  cultivation, 


254  FITCHBUR  G. 

cultivation,  than  from  deep  and  latent  mines 
of  the  richeft  ore.  When  the  country  becomes 
overilocked  with  inhabitants,  and  fupport  from  the 
foil  (hall  not  be  fo  eafily  obtained,  it  is  not  im 
probable  that  from  this  mountain  will  be  dug 
large  quantities  of  thofe  mining  metals,  as  every 
thing,  at  prcfent,  favours  the  conjecture.  Befides 
the  river  abovementioned,  which  runs  from  the 
uorthu-eft  to  the  foutheaft,  through  the  town, 
there  are  feveral  other  ft  reams  which  pafs  through 
it,  which  occafion  the  inhabitants  great  expenfe  in 
building  and  repairing  bridges.  From  the  north- 
weft  part  of  Connecticut  river  the  people  travel 
much  through  this  place,  in  their  way  to  Bofton  ; 
and  at  prefent  they  have  a  ftage  which  runs  be 
tween  them  and  Bofton,  and  goes  and  comes  twice 
in  the  week. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  this  town  was  imbodi- 
ed,  and  their  firft  and  only,  and  prefent  minifter, 
the  Rev.  John  Payfon,  was  ordained  January 
27th,  1768. 

This  is  a  growing,  flourifhing  place,  and  the 
people  have  hitherto  been  peaceable  and  happy  ; 
they  are  indeed  very  much  fo  ;  and  if  they  con- 
ftnue  in  peace  and  unity,  they  will  ftill  greatly 
increafe  in  number  and  wealth.  They  fubfift  chief 
ly  by  hufbandry  ;  there  are,  however,  the  ufual  me- 
chanicks,  and  a  few  dealers  in  European,  Eaft  and 
Weft  India  goods. 

The  growth  of  wood  in  this  town  is  very  excel 
lent :  Oak,  walnut  and  chefnut,  conftitute  the 

principal 


W  I  N  C  H  E  N  D  O  N.  255 

principal    part   thereof,    although   there  is  fome 
white  and  yellow  pine. 

Fitchburg  is  fituated  northweft  from  Bofton,  at 
the  diftance  of  fifty  miles  over  Charles's  River 
bridge  ;  and  it  is  almoft  north  from  the  courthoufe 
in  Worcefter,  diftant  about  twenty  three  miles. 


WINCHENDON. 


V-/N  the  loth  of  June,  17-85,  a  grant 
of  land,  to  be  equal  to  fix  miles  fquare,  was  made 
by  the  Legiflature  of  Maflachufetts,  to  Lieut.  Abra 
ham  Tilton,  and  others  :  Preference,  however,  was 
to  be  given  to  the  defoendants  of  the  officers  and 
foldiers  who  ferved  in  the  expedition  to  Canada,  in 
the  year  1690.  This  tracl;  was  to  be  laid  out  into 
fixty  three  equal  mares ;  one  for  the  irft  minifter, 
one  for  the  ufe  of  the  miniflry,  and  one  for  the 
ufe  of  a  fchool ;  the  others,  for  (ixty  proprietors, 
As  thefe  all,  excepting  eight,  belonged  to  Ipjwick, 
in  the  county  of  Eflex,  in  Maffachufetts,  it  was 
called  Ipfwich  Canada,  until  its  incorporation  by 
an  a£l  of  the  General  Court,  which  pafled  June 
14th,  1764,  when  it  was  made  a  town,  and  called 
Winchendon.  The  proprietors  received  this  grant 
on,  conditions  of  creeling  fixty  fmall  houfes,  to- 
R  4  gether 


«56  W  I  N  C  H  E  N  D  O  N. 

gether  with  a  fuitable,  convenient  meetinghoufe, 
and  fettling  a  learned  and  orthodox  minifter  in 
five  years  from  the  laying  out  of  the  townfhip. 
Thefe  conditions  were  not  punctually  fulfilled  ; 
however,  in  the  year  1752,  ten  families  had  fixed 
down  here.  But  the  fettlement  of  the  place  was 
immediately  retarded  by  what  is  commonly  called 
the  laft  French  war.  Mod  of  the  fettlers  left  the 
place  ;  they  who  remained  were  obliged  to  keep 
in  garrifons.  The  proprietors  fet  up  the  firfl  meet 
inghoufe,  thirty  five  by  forty  five  feet,  in  the  fpring 
of  the  year  1762.  The  church  of  Chrift  in  this 
place  was  imbodied,  and  the  Rer.  Daniel  Stimp- 
fon  was  ordained  their  firfl  paflor,  on  December 
15th,  1762.  Mr.  Stimpfon  continued  not  fix  years 
in  the  miniflry  ;  the  Great  Head  of  the  church 
law  fit  to  remove  him  hence  by  death,  July  2Oth, 
1768.  He  was  fucceeded  in  the  paftoral  office  by 
the  Rev.  Jofeph  Brown,  who  was  feparated  here 
unto  May  24th,  1769.  Mr.  Brown  continues  in 
his  work,  and  enjoys  the  affection  and  efteem  of 
his  people.  The  firft  houfe  for  publick  worfhip 
being  too  frnali  for  t]ie  inhabitants,  they  on  the 
24th  and  25th  of  May,  1792,  creeled  a  large  new 
one,  fifty  by  fixty  fret,  and  having  completed  it, 
met  in  it  for  the  firft  time  January  ift,  1793, 
when  it  was  folemnly  dedicated  to  the  fervice 
of  God. 

In  this  town  a  foundation  is  already  laid  for  a 
focial  library,  which  bids  fair  to  be  large  and  very 
confiderable  in  time. 

When. 


W  I  N  C  H  E  N  D  O  N.  357 

When  this  townfhip  was  fir  ft  located  it  was 
fuppofed  to  extend  northerly  to  Newhampfhire, 
but  upon  running  the  line  afterwards  between  the 
two  States,  it  was  found  there  was  a  mile  in  width 
for  the  whole  length  of  this  town  left  to-  Maffachu- 
fetts.  Upon  the  granting  of  Royalfton,  fome  years 
after,  this  ftrip  of  land  was  annexed  to  that  town, 
and  called  Royalflon  Leg.  When  a  number  of 
families  had  got  feated  thereon,  at  their  requeft, 
it  was  in  1780  fet  to  Winchendon.  It  contained 
3840  acres.  In  June,  1785,  a  piece  of  land  of 
3680  acres,  was  taken  from  the  foutheafterly  part 
of  this  town,  to  help  form  the  town  of  Gardner  ; 
Winchendon,  however,  ftill  remains  more  than  fix 
miles  fquare. 

The  prefent  extent  and  boundaries  of  Winchen 
don  are  as  follow.  Beginning  at  the  northeaft 
angle  of  the  town,  on  the  State  line,  thence  fouth 
twelve  degrees  weft,  five  miles  and  an  half  on  Afh- 
burnham  line,  to  the  noftheaft  corner  of  Gard 
ner  :  Thence  weft  twenty  eight  degrees  fouth,  three 
miles  and  eighty  five  rods  on  Gardner  line,  to  a 
corner  in  Templeton  line  :  Thence  north  thirty 
fix  degrees  weft,  two  miles  one  hundred  and  forty 
four  rods  on  Templeton  line,  to  a  corner  :  Thence 
north  feventy  eight  degrees  weft,  fix  hundred  rods 
on  faid  Templeton  line,  to  a  corner  in  Royalfton 
line  :  Thence  north  twelve  degrees  eaft,  on  Roy 
alfton  line,  five  miles  two  hundred  and  fixty  rods, 
to  the  northeaft  corner  of  faid  Royalfton,  on  the 
State  line,  or  the  line  between  Winchendon  and 
Rindge  :  Thence  eaft  twelve  degrees  fouth,  fix 
miles  on  the  State  Ijne,  to  the  fijr  ft  mentioned  bound, 

The 


258  W  I  N  C  H  E  N  D  O  N. 

The  foil  of  Winchendon  is  deep  and  good,  and 
produces  rye,  barley,  oats,  flax,  and  all  kinds 
of  vegetables  :  Wheat  is  not  raifed  here  in  fo 
great  plenty  as  in  fome  other  towns  ;  yet  more 
at  prefent  than  formerly.  Indian  corn  is  not 
fo  eafily  raifed,  as  the  land  is  rocky,  and  fome 
of  the  extreme  parts  of  the  town  are  much  fubjeft 
to  frofls.  The  town  is  not  very  uneven,  and  there 
are  no  remarkable  hills  in  the  place. 

The  general  growth  of  wood  on  the  high  lands, 
is  red  oak,  beech,  rock  maple,  and  black  birch,  in- 
terfperfed  with  white  pine  and  hemlock.  On  the 
low  lands,  white  pine,  hemlock,  hacmatack,  afli  of 
•  all  kinds,  and  yellow  birch,  interfperfed  with  red 
oak  and  beech.  On  fome  of  the  loweft  lands, 
there  is  little  or  nothing  but  pine,  hemlock,  and 
hacmatack.  In  fome  parts  of  the  town  there  is 
chefnut,  and  in  other  parts  pitch  pine,  but  nei 
ther  of  them  in  plenty. 

Mines  or  minerals,  none  as  yet  have  been  dif- 
covered  in  the  town  :  There  are  two  or  three 
fprings,  however,  of  the  mineral  kind  ;  one  efpec- 
ially  in  the  northerly  part  of  the  town,  which  is 
thought  by  phyficians  and  others  acquainted  with 
fuch  things,  to  be  equal  to  many  in  great  repute 
for  their  healing  virtue.  It  is  certainly  of  the  me 
dicinal  kind,  and  rather  fecms  of  a  chalybeate 
quality.  There  is  but  one  pond  which  is  wholly 
within  the  limits  of  this  town,  called  Demfon's 
Pond,  it  covers  perhaps  as  much  as  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  It  has  an  inJct  from  the  north,  and 
an  outdet  towards  the  fouth  into  a  river  which  runs 

within 


W  I  N  C  H  E  N  D  O -Mr  859 

within  an  hundred  rods  of  faid  pond.  It  abounds 
in  fifti  of  various  kinds.  There  is  one  river, 
known  by  the  name  of  Miller's  River,  the  princi 
pal  fource  whereof  is  a  large  pond,  lying  chiefly 
in  the  northeafterly  part  of  Rindge,  a  fmall  part 
only  falling  within  the  bounds  of  Winchendon, 
where  the  outlet  is.  This  pond  is  known  by  the 
name  of  Monomenock  Pond.  The  outlet  from  this 
pond,  together  with  fome  fmall  ftreams  from 
ponds  in  the  northwefterly  part,  of  Amburnham, 
uniting  in  the  northeafterly  part  of  Winchendon, 
form  Miller's  River^  which  runs  wefterly,  fouth- 
wefterly  and  foutherly,  half  round  the  town  ;  in 
no  place  nearer  than  one  mile  of  the  meeting- 
houie,  and  in  fome  places  three  miles  and  more 
from  it.  It  leaves  this  town  in  the  fouthwefterly 
part  thereof,  not  far  from  the  pond  above  defcrib- 
ed,  the  outlet  of  which,  as  we  have  faid,  falls  into 
this  river.  Otter  River,  fo  called,  which  runs 
through  the  northerly  part  of  Templeton,  juft 
touches  on  Winchendon,  in  the  fouthwefterly 
part  thereof,  and  runs  nigh  the  bounds  of  the 
town  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  unites  with 
Miller's  River,  but  juft  before  it  leaves  Winchen 
don.  There  are  two  large  ftreams  in  the  wefterly 
part  of  this  town,  taking  their  rife  in  Fitzwilliam. 
One  of  them  joins  Miller's  River  in  Winchendon, 
near  to  Royalfton  :  This  is  not  diftinguiftied  by. 
any  particular  name.  The  other,  ft  ill  larger,  runs 
into  Royalfton,  and  fome  confiderable  way  in  the 
eafterly  part  thereof ;  then  turns  ajid  enters  Win 
chendon,  and  after  running  feveral  miles,  joins 

Miller's 


WINCHENDO  N. 

Miller's  River  juft  above  Denifon's  Pond.     This 
flream  might  have  been  denominated  a  river  from 
its  largenefs,   had  it   not  early  received  the  appel 
lation  of  Prieft's  Brook.     This  name  was  given  to 
it  from  the  circumftance  of  its  running  through  a 
tra&  of  land,  now  lying  in  Royalfton,   formerly 
granted  by  the  General  Court  of  Maflarhufetts  to  a 
Jofeph  Prieft,  to  induce  him  to  fet  up  an  houfe  of 
entertainment  for  the  benefit  of  travellers   from 
this  date  to  the  Aftmelots  (Keene   and  Swanfey) 
and  to  No.  4  (Charleftown)   in  the   ftate  of  New- 
hampfhire.     The  houfe  of  this  Prieft,   was  called 
The  Half  Way  Hmtfc. 

Thefe  two  ftreams,  efpecially  the  latter,  abound 
with  falmon  trouts.  This  fort  of  fifh  is  alfo  found 
in  many  parts  of  Miller's  River,  as  alfo  pickerel 
and  perch. 

Befides  the  abovementioned,  there  are  many 
other  ftreams  and  rivulets  running  in  every  part  of 
this  town,  whereby  it  is  exceedingly  well  watered. 

There  is  but  little  meadow  land,  perhaps  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  the  town 
of  Winchendon. 

Interval  land  on  Miller's  River  there  is  confid- 
erable,  and  what  is  improved  is  of  a  very  good 
quality.  But  of  this  there  is  not  fo  much  as 
might  have  been  expefted  ;  for  the  high  lands  in 
moft  places  (hut  down  quite  clofe  upon  the  riv 
er.  Upon  the  rivers  and  ftreams  in  the  town  there 
are  two  grift  mills,  fix  faw  mills,  and  one  clothier's 
works.  There  are  alfo  in  the  town,  two  potafli 
works. 

Roads 


R  O  Y  A  L  S  T  O  N.  26* 

Roads  in  variotis  dire&ions  centre  at,  or  near 
the  meetinghoufe.  The  greateft  road  is  from 
Bofton,  through  Winchendon,  and  fo  on  through 
Fitzwilliam  to  Charleftown  ;  this  road  a  ftage 
paffes  weekly  through  the  fumrner  feafon.  A- 
nother  road  leads  from  Winchendon,  through 
Gardner,  Weftminfter,  and  fo  on  to  Worcefter. 
Another  runs  fouth  through  Templeton  ;  another 
wefterly  through  Royal  ft  on,  and  another  norther 
ly  through  Rindge.  Winchendon  is  fituated  a- 
Ibout  fixty  two  miles  from  Bofton,  by  the  neareft 
route,  to  the  northweft  :  And  from  Worcefter 
courthoufe  it  is  thirty  five  miles,  a  little  to  the 
weft  of  north.  When  the  cenfus  was  taken,  there 
were  in  the  place  150  houfes,  and  950  inhabit 
ants,  and  it  will  no  doubt  ftill  greatly  increafe 
and  multiply. 


ROY     ALSTON. 

1  HIS  is,  as  to  the  original  grant  and 
fettlement,  doubtlefs  by  many  years,  the  young- 
eft  town  in  the  county.  It  was  in  the  year  1752, 
or  very  foon  after,  granted  to  the  Hon.  Meffrs. 
Hubbard,  Erving,  Royal,  Otis,  and  others,  and 
was  to  include  all  the  unappropriated  lands  be 
tween  Newhampftiire  line,  on  the  north ;  Warwick, 

on 


262  ROY  ALSTON. 

on  the  weft  ;  Athol  and  Templeton,  on  the  foutl 
Winchendon,  on  the  eaft  and  fouth  ;  and  Afhbura- 
ham,  on  the  eaft.  This  grant  was  known  by  the 
name  of  Royalfhire,  until  its  incorporation,  which 
was  on  February  i6th,  1765,  when  it  was  called 
Royal/Ion,  in  compliment  to  the  late  Col.  Ifaac  Roy 
al,  one  of  the  original  proprietors.  Before  the 
laft  French  war,  fome  who  intended  to  fettle 
here,  began  to  work  upon  their  lands,  but  the 
breaking  out  of  that  war  put  an  entire  flop  there 
to.  Towards  the  clofe  of  that  war  fome  people 
began  to  work  here  again  ;  and  in  the  year  1762 
Several  families  moved  into  the  place  ;  the  firft 
of  which  came  in,  in  the  month  of  June.  Its  in- 
crlafe  was  truly  furprifing,  for  in  lefs  than  three 
years,  it  was  incorporated  with  diftincl:  town  priv 
ileges  ;  and  in  the  clofe  of  the  year  1767,  there 
were  about  forty  families  in  the  town.  The 
number  of  families  at  this  time  is  195,  and  the 
number  of  fouls  about  1130  ;  befides  that,  there 
were  a  number  of  families  with  their  eftates  fet  off 
to  aid  in  forming  the  diftricl:  of  Orange,  in  the 
county  of  Hampfhire.  As  early  as  the  year  1766, 
on  the  i3th  day  of  October,  a  congregational 
church  was  imbodied  here,  under  the  counte 
nance,  and  in  the  prefence  of  the  churches  in  the 
vicinity  ;  and  on  the  igth  of  October,  1768,  the 
firft  and  prefent  paftor,  the  Rev.  Jofeph  Lee,  was 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniflry  among 
them. 

There  were  nine  or  ten  families  of  the  baptift 
denomination  among  the  firft  fettlers.     At   what 

time 


ROYALSTON.  263 

time  they  imbodied  into  a  church  {late  is  not 
known  to  us.  A  Mr.  Elifha  Rich  was  their  teach 
er,  but  he  was  never  ordained  among  them.  He 
was  fucceeded  by  Mr.  Whitman  Jacobs,  who  was 
inftaUed  December  13th,  1770.  He  lived  in  A- 
thol,  to  which  town  part  of  his  fociety  belonged, 
and  there  he  now  refides:  Mr.  Mofes  Kinney  is 
now  the  ordained  teacher  of  the  baptifts  in  Roy- 
alfton. 

The  lands  in  this  town  confift  generally  of  hills 
and  valleys  ;  and  the  foil  is  very  excellent,  being 
fuitable  for  tillage,  pafturage,  mowing  and  orchard 
ing.  The  natural  growth  of  wood  is  of  various 
kinds,  as  oak,  chefnut,  beech,  afh,  white,  black  and 
yellow  birch,  maple,  or  fugar  tree,  bafs,  alder,  and 
the  ever  greens,  as  pine,  hemlock,  hacmatack  and 
fpruce,  &c. 

This  town  is  exceedingly  well  watered  by  riv 
ers,  rivulets  and  fprings.  Miller's  River  runs 
through  this  town  from  the  eaft.  And  there  are 
a  number  of  confiderable  brooks  or  flreams, 
which  uniting,  form  what  is  called  Tully  River 
in  Athol.  In  the  foutherly  part  of  the  town  one 
of  the  flreams  which  helps  to  form  Tully  River, 
has  very  obfervable  falls.  In  the  courfe  of  forty 
or  fifty  rods,  the  whole  fall  of  water  is  more  than 
a  hundred  feet.  In  one  place  it  is  twenty  feet, 
or  more.  On  thefe  feveral  ftreams  before  mention 
ed  are  large  quantities  of  rich  interval,  or  excel 
lent  meadow  lands. 

There  are  two  ponds  in  the  town ;  one  fmall, 
a  liftle  weft  of  the  meetinghoufe  ;  the  other  about 

a 


A  S  H  B  U  R  N  H  A  M. 

a  mile  further  weftward,  called  Long  Pond.  A 
fmall  ftream  runs  out  of  the  leffer  into  the  greater. 
Although  the  di fiance  between  thefe  ponds  i* 
but  little  more  than  haif  a  mile  in  a  dire&  line, 
yet  the  little  pond  is  at  leaft  an  hundted  and  fifty 
feet  higher  than  the  other.  There  are  in  both 
ponds,  various  forts  of  fifh,  and  in  great  plenty  ; 
thofe  in  the  larger  are  moft  excellent.  The  dif- 
tance  of  this  town  from  Bofton  is,  by  the  neareft. 
route,  about  feventy  miks,  to  the  northweft  - 
and  from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  it  is  forty 
miles,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  the  State 
line  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Wmchendon ;  on  the  fouth, 
by  Gerry  and  Athol  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Athol 
and  Warwick. 


ASHBURNHAM. 

ON  the  loth  of  June,  1735,  a  grant 
was  made  by  the  General  Court,  to  Thomas  Tile- 
ilone  and  others,  for  and  in  confideration  of  fer- 
vices  done  by  officers  and  foldiers  of  the  ancient 
town  of  Dorchefter,  in  the  expedition  to  Canada 
in  1690,  under  Capt.  John  Withrington,  This 
grant  was  to  be  equal  to  fix  miles  fquare,  and 
went  by  the  name  of  Dorchefter  Canada,  until  its 

incorporation, 


A  S  H  B  U  R  N  H  A  M.  265 

incorporation,  which  was  on  the  22d  of  February, 
1765,  when  it  received  its  prefent  name.  To  the 
original  grant  were  afterwards  added  Lexington 
farm  of  a  thoufand  acres,  Cambridge  farm  of  a 
thoufand  more,  Rolfe's  farm  of  fix  hundred,  and 
another  of  about  a  thoufand  acres. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  Afhburnham  was  gath 
ered  April  2 gd,  1760,  and  the  fame  day  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Winchefter  was  ordained  their  firft  paf- 
tor.  This  gentleman  was  fomewhat  advanced  in 
life  when  he  was  fettled  in  the  work  of  the  minif- 
try  ;  and  he  continued  but  a  fhort  fpace  therein, 
leaving  the  world  November  27th,  1767.  To 
him  fucceeded  in  the  facred  office  and  work,  the 
Rev.  John  Cuftiing,  who  was  folemnly  confecrat- 
ed  hereunto  November  2d,  1768.  In  the  town 
there  are  about  twenty  families  of  baptifts,  who 
manifeft  far  greater  catholicifm  than  formerly. 
The  whole  number  of  families  is  about  150,  anc^ 
of  inhabitants  about  970,  befides  a  number  who 
were  fet  off  to  Afhby,  in  the  county  of  Middlefex, 
with  about  3000  acres  of  land,  and  a  number  to 
the  town  of  Gardner,  with  about  2000  acres  more. 

In  this  town  are  fituated  two  large  hills,  or 
mountains,  Great  and  Little  Wetatick.  Great  Wet- 
atick  lies  in  the  northeaft  part  of  the  town,  and 
Little  Wetatick  to  the  fouthweft  from  it. 

There  are  feven  ponds  within  the  limits  of  Afh- 
burnham,  which  divide  it  nearly  into  two  equal 
parts,  north  and  fouth.  Two  of  them  are  large, 
viz.  Great  and  Little  Naukheag.  The  others  are 
not  diftinguithed  by  any  particular  names.  Here 
S  are 


AS'HBURNHAM. 

are  no  rivers  ;  but  thefe  ponds  are  fources  of  fev- 
eral  ftreams,  which  take  different  routes,  and  con 
tribute  to  the  formation  of  feveral  large  rivers. 
From  Little  Nalikheag,  which  is  near  the  centre  of 
the  town,  a  rivulet  empties  into  Great  Naukheag, 
whence  a  ftream  iffues  to  the  weft,  which  makes 
part  of  Miller's  River.  About  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  eaft  of  Little  Naukheag  begins  another  ftream, 
which  runs  foutheaft,  and  joining  in  Fitchburg 
with  another  ftream  from  Weftminfter,  and  other 
fmall  ftreams.  helps  to  form  the  north  branch  of 
Nafhaway  River.  Northeaft  from  this  laft  men 
tioned  ftream,  arife  two  more,  which,  joining  loon, 
run  through  Aftiby  into  Newipfwich,  in  the  State 
of  Newhampmire,  and  become  a  large  branch  of 
Souheagan  River,  which  empties  into  the  great 
river  Merrimack.  Hence  it  appears  that  this  town 
is  upon  the  height  of  land  between  Connecticut 
river  on  the  weft,  and  Merrimack  on  the  eaft. 
And  what  is  worthy  of  particular  notice  is  this, 
that  fcarce  any  water  runs  into  this  town  :  It  be 
ing  conjectured  that  all  which  comes  in,  from  all 
quarters,  would  pafs  through  a  man's  boot.  On 
ftreams  illuing  from  three  of  the  ponds  in  Aflh- 
burnham,  there  are  mills,  and  a  fine  feat  for  more 
on  the  ftream  which  runs  out  of  Great  Naukheag, 
not  yet  improved.  On  the  banks  of  Little  Nauk 
heag  is  a  white  fand,  equal  in  finenefs  and  whitc- 
nefs  to  that  on  the  banks  of  Capeannc,  and  which 
it  is  judged  would  make  glafs. 

There  is  much  broken  land  in  this  town.    Some 
parts  abound  in  hemlock,  fpruce,  white  ancl  pitch 

pine; 


A  S  H  B  U  R  N  H  A  M.  267 

pine  ;  this  is  the  cafe  more  efpecially  in  the  wef- 
tern  part ;  however,  there  is  much  good  land  for 
grafs.  Where  the  growth  of  wood  is  oak,  hard 
and  foft  maple,  beach,  birch  and  chefnut,  the  land 
is  moift  and  good  for  grazing.  It  has  been  a  not 
ed  place  for  lumber  :  The  belt  pine  timber  is  moft- 
ly  worked  up  :  There  yet  remain  great  quantities 
of  white  and  pitch  pine,  fuitable  for  boards.  There 
are  five  faw  mills,  and  four  corn  mills  in  the  town. 
Here  are  potafti  works,  and  have  been  from  its 
infancy  ;  and  the  firft  complete  ton  of  this  article 
carried  into  market  was  from  Amburnham.  Here 
are  no  remarkable  fprings,  or  other  natural  curiofi- 
ties.  They  have  an  elegant  new  meetinghoufe. 
The  former  houfe  of  publick  worfhip  was,  about 
twenty  years  ago,  wrecked  by  an  hurricane,  and 
moved  three  or  four  feet  to  the  north  and  eaft ;  a 
barn,  about  fixtv  rods  to  the  fouth,  was  torn  down. 

*  *  ™ 

while  the  owner  within  it  efcaped  unhurt.  This 
hurricane  paffed  from  the  weft  to  the  eaft,  extend 
ing  about  half  a  mile  in  width,  and  upon  the  hills 
fwept  all  before  it.  The  town  enjoys  a  fine  air, 
and  is  remarkably  healthy. 

Its  diftance  from  Worcefter,  is  thirty  miles  to 
the  north  ;  and  from  Bofton,  by  the  neareft  route, 
is  fifty  five  miles,  but  through  Lancafter  and 
Stow,  it  is  fixty  miles,  and  lies  to  the  northweft. 

Amburnham  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  the 
State  line  ;  on  the  northeaft,  by  Afliby  ;  on  the 
earl,  by  Fitchburg  ;  on  the  fouth,   by  Weftminfter 
and  Gardner ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Winchendon. 
S  2  PAXTON. 


i63 


P      A      X      T      O      N. 


1  HIS  was  taken  from  the  towns  of 
Leicefter  and  Rutland,  in  nearly  equal  parts  ;  and 
was  incorporated  on  the  i2th  of  February,  1765, 
when  it  received  its  name. 

The  eccleliaftical  ftate  of  this  town  has  been 
fomewhat  fingular,  from  the  gathering  of  the 
church  of  Chrift  in  the  place,  to  the  prefent  time, 
as  will  appear  by  the  following  account. 

The  church  in  Paxton.  was  imbodied  September 
3d,  1767.  The  Rev.  Silas  Biglow  was  ordained 
their  firft  minifter  the  fame  year,  viz.  October 
21  ft,  1767.  He  was  much  beloved  and  refpefted 
by  the  people  of  his  charge,  but  the  Great  Head 
of  the  church  fuffercd  him  to  continue  but  a  little 
more  than  two  years  in  office,  being  removed  by 
death,  November  i6th,  1769. 

He  was  fucceeded  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  min- 
iftry  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Thayer,  who  was 
folemnly  feparated  hereunto  on  the  28th  of  No 
vember,  1770.  Mr.  Thayer  continued  not  quite 
twelve  years  with  the  people,  being  difmilfed  from 
office  Augull  i4th,  1782. 

They  were  deftitute,  after  this,  of  a  fettled  min 
ifter  for  more  than  three  years,  until  September 
8th,  1785,  when  the  Rev.  John  Fofter  was  ordain 
ed  their  third  paftor  ;  at  which  time  the  town  was 
in  a  moil  unhappy  divided  ftate,  there  being  but 
a  bare  majority  for  Mr.  Fofter  ;  the  other  party 

diflenting, 


p    A     X     T     O     N.  269 

diffenting,  and  protefting,  utterly  refufed  ,to  hear 
him,  and  were  by  law  exempted  from  contributing 
to  his  fupport.  In  this  fituation  the  people  re 
mained  for  three  years  and  a  half,  until  April, 
1789,  when  Mr.  Fofter  was  difmiffed  from  his 
pafloral  relation  to  the  people. 

Mr.  Fofter. was,  in  about  three  years  after,  in- 
Hailed  at  Taunton,  in  the  county  of  Briflol. 

After  Mr.  Fofter's  removal  from  Paxton  the 
parties  amicably  reunited,  and  are  in  a  way  for  the 
happy  refettlement  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  among 
them. 

If  the  people  do  but  continue  united,  they  arc 
able  to  fupport  the  gofpel  in  a  very  honourable, 
generous  manner  :  For  the  town,  though  not  large, 
is  well  fettled,  being  an  excellent  tracl;  of  land,  and 
the  inhabitants  in  general  are  induftrious,  good,  and 
wealthy  farmers.  It  is  pleafant,  although  uneven, 
having  many  hills  and  valleys  ;  but  the  foil  is  rich 
and  productive  :  It  is  good  for  all  kinds  of  grain, 
and  well  repays  the  labour  bellowed  upon  it  :  It  is 
peculiarly  good  for  grafs  and  pafturing,  and  like- 
wife  for  orcharding.  The  high  lands  are  moift 
and  fpringy,  not  too  rocky  ;  and  the  lower  lands 
are  fwamps  or  meadows,  but  ealily  drained.  The 
Tvood  which  grows  on  the  higher  lands,  is  oak, 
much  walnut,  fome  chefnut  ;  and  in  the  lower 
lands,  are  found  birch,  beech,  maple  and  afh.  It 
is  truly  noticeable  that  the  wood  in  this  town, 
when  cut  down,  never  fprouts  again,  in  confe- 
quence  of  which  they  are  threatened  with  a  fear- 
city  of  fuel. 

S  3  Thi 


2;o  P     A    X     T    O    N. 

The  town  is  exceedingly  well  watered  by  fprings 
from  the  hills  ;  and  by  fmall  ftreams,  on  which 
they  have  both  corn  and  faw  mills.  From  the 
fame  fpring,  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  meet- 
inghoufe,  waters  iffue,  which  foon  divide  and  take 
quite  different  and  contrary  directions  ;  part  runs 
northeafterly  into  the  river  Nafhaway  ;  part  runs 
fouthwefterly  into  Connecticut  river.  There  are 
two  hills  in  the  town  of  great  height,  and  worthy 
of  particular  mention  :  One  is  called  Turkey  Hill, 
near  Rutland  line,  this  is  large,  and  affords  good 
farms  ;  and  efpecially  fine  pafture  land  :  At  the 
foot  of  this  hill,  on  the  weft  fide,  lies  Turkey  Hill 
Pond,  large,  and  well  flored  with  fifh  ;  and  from 
this  pond  runs  a  ftream  which  empties  into  Chica- 
bee  River,  and  from  thence  into  Connecticut  river. 
On  the  eafl  fide  of  the  town,  and  in  that  part  which 
was  formerly  Leicefter,  is  fituated  what  is  called 
Afnebumfkit  Hill,  the  foot  of  which,  on  the  eaft 
fide,  falls  within  the  bounds  of  Holden.  This  is  a 
large  and  high  hill,  containing  feveral  hundred 
acres,  the  land  is  rich  and  good  ;  efpecially  adapt 
ed  forpaflurage.  It  lies  about  twelve  miles  fouth 
of  Watchufett  great  hill,  and  except  that,  overtops 
all  other  hills  within  forty  or  fifty  miles  of  it. 
Around  this  hill  the  vapours  gather  fo  plentifully, 
or  become  fo  denfe  the  evening  preceding  a  rain, 
that  it  appears  at  a  diftance  as  if  it  rained  upon 
its  fummit.  To  this  hill  many  of  the  farmers,  in 
the  vicinity,  look  at  evening,  or  a  little  before  the 
ietting  of  the  fun,  in  the  time  of  making  hay,  that 
they  may  be  able  to  determine  with  a  good  degree 

of 


P    A    X    T    O    N.  271 

of  certainty,  what  the  weather  will  be  the  next  day. 
Near  the  foot  of  this  hill,  is  fituated  Afnebumflut 
Pond  ;  which  is  a  fine  large  pond,  and  well  fuppli- 
ed  with  fifh  :  From  this  pond  there  iffues  aftream, 
which  runs  to  the  northeaft  through  Holden,  and 
joining  the  ftream  from  the  foot  of  Watchufett 
Hill,  helps  to  form  the  fouth  branch  of  Nafhaway 
River.  From  fprings,  on  the  northwefterly  part  of 
Afnebumfidt  Hill,  a  ftream  is  formed,  which  run 
ning  foutherly,  paffes  through  Leicefter,  and  fo 
to  French  River.  The  above  obfervations  mew 
us  that  Paxton  is  fituated  on  the  height  of  the  lands 
between  the  fea,  on  the  eaft  and  fouth,  and  Con 
necticut  river  on  the  weft. 

In  Paxton,  works  for  making  potafh  have  lately 
been  fet  up  :  And  here  a  fmall  number  of  cotton 
and  wool  cards  are  annually  made. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  this  town  was 
found  in  1791,  to  be  558. 

Paxton  is  fituated  eight  miles  weft  from  Wor- 
cefter,  and  about  fifty  five  from  Bofton,  a  little  to 
the  fouth  of  weft.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by 
Rutland  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Holden  ;  on  the  fouth, 
by  Leicefter  and  Spencer  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by 
and  Rutland, 


S  4  NORTHBOROUGH. 


NORTHBOROUGH. 

1  HIS  was  the  north  part  of  the  town 
of  Weftborough,  the  main  part  whereof  was  fet  off 
from  Marlborough  in  the  year  1717.  It  was  made 
the  fecond  precincl  or  parifh  of  Weftborough  by 
an  a&  of  Court,  on  the  2Oth  of  Oclober,  1744. 

The  church  of  Chrift  was  gathered  in  this  place 
May  2ift,  1746,  and  on  the  fame  day  the  Rev. 
John  Martin  was  ordained  their  firft  pallor,  who 
continued  to  minifler  unto  them  in  holy  things 
until  April  3Oth,  1767,  when  after  a  fhort  ficknefs 
he  died  in  the  61  ft  year  of  his  age,  and  the  21  ft 
of  his  miniftry.  In  fix  months  and  four  days  from 
his  death,  viz.  on  the  4th  of  November,  1767,  the 
Rev.  Peter  Whitney  was  confecrated  their  fecond 
pa  ft  or. 

Here,  about  thirty  gentlemen  have  united,  and 
eftablifhed  a  focial  library,  containing  one  hundred 
volumes  at  prefent  ;  and  fuch  are  its  regulations 
as  that  it  will  annually  increafe. 

A  narrative  of  an  Hebrew  inftruftor  at  Harvard 
College,  who  died  at  Northborough,  and  his  Epi 
taph,  are  thought  worth  preferving. 

Mr.  Monis,  as  I  fuppofe,  the  firft  Hebrew  In- 
flruftor  in  our  Univerfity  at  Cambridge,  was  born 
in  Italy.  When  he  came  into  America  I  am  not 
able  to  fay.  He  married  a  Mifs  Marrett,  of  Cam 
bridge,  who  died  in  the  year  1761  ;  whereupon  he 

refigned 


N  O  R  T  H  B  O  R  O  U  G  H.      273 

refigned  his  office,  and  retired  to  Northborough, 
and  fpent  the  refidue  of 'his  days  in  the  family  of 
the  late  Rev.  John  Martyn.  Mrs.  Monis  and  Mrs. 
Martyn  were  lifters.  He  left  fomething  very  hon 
ourable  and  generous  to  the  church  in  Northbor 
ough.  He  bequeathed  forty  fix  pounds  thirteen 
fhillings  and  four  pence,  to  be  equally  divided  a- 
mong  feven  of  the  mini  fters  then  living  in  the  vicin 
ity  :  Alfo,  he  left  about  an  hundred  and  twenty  fix 
pounds  as  a  fund,  the  intereft  whereof  was  to  be  dif- 
tributed  among  widows  of  minifters  who  were  in 
indigent  circumftanccs  ;  and  the  remainder  of  his 
eftate,  which  was  considerable,  he  gave  to  the  Mar 
tyn  family. 

The  following  is  the  infcription  on  his  grave  ilone. 

"  Here  lie  buried  the  remains  of 

Rabbi  Judah  Monis,  M.  A. 

Late  Hebrew  Inftru&or 

At  Harvard   College  in  Cambridge  ; 

In  which  office  he  continued  40  years. 

He  was,  by  birth  and  religion,  a  Jew, 

But  embraced  the  Chriftian  faith, 

And  was  publickly  baptized 

At  Cambridge,  A.  D.  1722, 

And   departed  this  life 

April  25th,  1764, 
Aged  eighty  one  years,  two  months 

and  twenty  one  days. 
A  native  branch  of  Jacob  fee, 

Which  once  from  off  its  olive  broke  ; 
Regrafted  from  the  living  tree,  Rom.  1 1 .  17,  24. 
Of  the  reviving  fap  partook. 

From 


NORTHBOROUGH. 

From  teeming  Zion's  fertile  womb,        Ifai.  66.  8. 

As  dewy  drops  in  early  morn,  Pfalm.  no.  3. 
Or  rifing  bodies  from  the  tomb,  John,  5.  28,  29. 

At  once  be  Ifrael's   nation  born.       Ifai.  66.  8." 

This  fecond  precinct  in  Weftborough  was  in 
corporated  February  24th,  1766,  and  from  its 
local  fituation  and  bearing,  was  called  Northbor- 
ough. 

There  were  fettlers  in  this  part  of  Marlborough 
before  there  were  any  in  what  is  now  Weftbor 
ough.  As  early  as  1 700,  or  rather  before,  a  few 
families  had  fixed  down  here.  And  there  was  a 
garrifon  kept  at  a  houfe  on  the  lower  fide  of  the 
town  towards  Marlborough,  near  the  brook  where 
Meffrs.  Bartlets  now  live.  On  Auguft  i8th,  1707, 
as  two  women  belonging  to  the  garrifon  were  out  a 
little  way  from  the  fort,  gathering  herbs,  the  In 
dians  difcovered  and  purfued  them.  One  Mrs. 
Mary  Fay,  got  fafe  into  the  fort  ;  the  other,  Mary 
Goodenow,  a  young  and  unmarried  woman,  was 
taken  and  carried  over  the  brook  into  the  edge  of 
,Marlborough,  and  there,  a  little  fouth  of  the  great 
road,  and  nigh  to  Sandy  Hill,  fo  called,  me  was 
killed  and  fcalped.  The  enemy  were  purfued  by 
fome  foldiers  and  people  of  Marlborough,  and 
were  overtaken  the  next  day,  in  that  part  of  Lan- 
cafler,  now  called  Sterling,*  when  a  mod  bloody 
battle  was  fought,  in  which  two  of  our  people, 
John  Farrar  and  Richard  Singletary,  were  killed. 
The  Indians  at  length  fled  with  great  precipita 
tion, 
i  . 

*  Sec  a  more  particular  account  of  thu  battle  in  the  hiftory  of  Lancafter 
ar.d  Sterling. 


NORTHBOROUGH.      275 

tion,  carrying  off  their  killed  and  wounded,  ex 
cept  one,  whofe  bones  were  afterwards  difcovered  ; 
but  they  left  behind  fome  of  their  plunder,  and 
fome  of  their  packs  ;  in  one  of  which  our  people 
found  the  fcalp  of  the  above  named  Mary  Goode- 
now  ;  and  hereupon  concluding  Ihe  muft  be  kill 
ed,  on  their  return  they  fearched  for,  and  found  her 
body,  and  there  buried  it  ;  and  her  grave  is  vifi- 
ble  to  this  day. 

The  town  of  Northborough  lies  in  a  kind  of 
valley  between  the  high  lands  of  Marlborough  on 
the  eaft,  and  thofe  of  Shrewlbury  and  Boylfton  on 
the  weft.  On  its  eafterly  fide  it  is  about  four 
miles  long,  and  on  its  weflerly  about  five  :  It  is 
on  an  average  about  three  miles  and  an  half  wide 
from  eaft  to  weft,  containing  about  90  dwelling 
houfes,  upwards  of  an  100  families,  and  accord 
ing  to  the  late  cenfus  620  inhabitants.  It  would 
doubtlefs  admit  of  150  or  more  families,  were  the 
large  farms  (tome  of  which  contain  four  hundred 
or  five  hundred  acres)  properly  divided.  This  is 
beginning  to  take  place,  and  in  a  few  years  proba 
bly  will  be  accomplished.  The  inhabitants  are 
chiefly  farmers,  and  wealthy  :  They  have  alfo 
traders  in  European  and  Weftindia  goods  ;  and 
various  tradefmen  and  mechanicks,  efpecially  an 
excellent  maker  of  edge  tools  of  various  kinds  ; 
and  confidering  its  dimenfions  and  number,  it  is 
doubtlefs  one  of  the  ableft  parifhes  in  the  county. 
The  pooreft  land  in  general  appears  as  we  travel 
the  great  road.  The  farms  which  lie  off  are  good, 
and  much  of  the  land  very  fertile.  The  weiierly  fide 

of 


*76   NORTHBOROU  O«. 

of  the  town  rifes  into  high  land,  and  the  north- 
weft  angle  is  very  high  ;  but  the  land  is  not  rocky, 
and  the  farms  are  excellent,  and  from  thence  the 
profpeft  is  extenfive.  There  is  one  beautiful  hill, 
called  Liguor  Hillt  containing  towards  an  hundred 
acres  of  land,  very  good,  oppofite  the  meeting- 
houfe,  and  not  more  than  fixty  or  eighty  rods 
from  it,  on  the  fouth  fide  of  the  poft  road.  This 
is  high,  and  feen  from  all  the  neighbouring  towns  ; 
but  it  is  not  inacceflible  even  to  teams.  Its  fum- 
jnit  is  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  good  wood  at 
prefent.  About  one  mile  northeaft  from  the  meet- 
inghoufe  is  another  hill,  very  fimilar,  called  Ed 
mund  Hill.  Upon  fhe  river  Afiabet,  which  runs 
through  the  eafterly  part  of  the  town,  are  vaft 
bodies  of  rich  interval  and  good  meadow  lands. 
And  upon  the  other  flrcams  and  rivulets  there  arc 
large  and  good  meadows,  efpecially  on  that  called 
Cold  Harbour,  which  rifes  in  the  north  part  of 
Shrewfbury,  and  eroding  the  foutheaft  angle  of 
Boylfton,  turns  and  runs  foutherly,  then  turns  and 
runs  eafterly,  and  palling  between  the  poft  road 
and  meetinghoufe,  foon  empties  itfelf  into  the  riv 
er  Aflabet.  On  the  above  named  fheam,  in  the 
wefterly  part  of  the  (own,  are  a  corn  and  faw  mill, 
one  a  few  rods  below  the  other,  and  as  there  is  a 
fmall  outlet  from  Reeky  Pond,  in  the  eafterly 
part  of  Boylfton,  which  empties  into  this  Cold 
Harbour  ft  ream,  fo  the  owner  of  thofe  mills,  by 
means  of  a  frnall  dam  at  the  lower  end  of  faid 
pond,  furniflies  them  with  a  rich  fupply  of  water, 
although  diftant  a  mile  or  more.  In  the  north 

,       part 


NORTHBOROUGH,      277 

part  of  the  town  are  a  corn  and  faw  mill  together, 
on  North  Brook,  which  coming  from  a  pond  in 
Lancafter,  and  running  through  Berlin  and  the 
northeaft  angle  of  Northborough,  falls  into  the 
river  Affabet.  A  little  north  of  the  meetinghoufe 
runs  a  fmall  but  lafting  ftream  from  the  hills  in 
the  wefterly  part  of  the  town,  on  whiCn  is  a  faw 
mill  which  performs  confiderable  work  in  the 
fpring  and  autumn.  In  the  town  there  are  two 
ponds  ;  one  called  Solomons  Pond,  from  the  cir- 
cumftance  of  an  Indian  of  that  name  being  drown 
ed  therein,  by  falling  through  a  raft  on  which 
he  was  fifhing.  This  is  in  the  northeafterly  part 
of  the  town.  It  is  not  large';  about  ninety  rods 
long,  and  feventy  five  rods  wide  ;  has  plenty  of 
fifh  :  To  this  pond  there  is  no  vifible  inlet  nor 
outlet. 

The  other  is  in  the  foutheaflerly  part  of  the 
town,  called  Little  Chauncy ;  this  alfo  is  well  fur- 
nimed  with  fifh.  From  Great  Chauncy  Pond,  in 
the  northeafterly  part  of  Weftborough,  there  is  a 
fmall  outlet  which  runs  into  Little  Chauncy  ;  and 
from  Ltitle  Chauncy  a  brook  runs  northerly,  and 
croffing  the  poft  road  on  the  line  between  Marl- 
borough  and  Northborough,  and  the  boundary  be 
tween  the  two  counties  of  Middlefex  and  Worcef- 
ter,  empties  its  waters  into  Affabet  River.  On 
this  ftream  are  a  corn  and  a  faw  mill  together  ;  and 
although  it  be  fmall,  yet  by  clearing  it  of  obftruc- 
tions,  and  a  little  digging  in  a  few  places,  they  are 
fupplied  with  a  large  quantity  of  water  from  both 

the 


278      N  O  R  T  H  B  O  R  O.U  G  H. 

the  ponds  above  named.  About  half  a  mile  from 
the  meetinghoufe,  on  the  poll  road,  and  on  the 
river  Affabet  there  is  a  mill  for  the  fulling  of 
cloth  ;  and  works  for  carrying  on  the  clothiers' 
bufmefs  in  all  its  branches,  where  about  7000 
yards  of  cloth  are  annually  drefled,  and  the  work 
is  mod  acceptably  performed  to  the  honour  and 
advantage  of  the  town,  and  the  intereft  of  the  com 
munity.  Thefe  works  are  the  property  of  two 
brothers,  Captains  Samuel  and  Abraham  Wood  ; 
but  the  bufmefs  is  performed  at  prefent  by  the 
latter  only.  On  the  oppofite  fide  of  the.  road 
and  river  are  works  for  the  manufacture  of  iron, 
and  where  many  tons  have  been  made.  There  is 
in  the  vicinity  a  great  plenty  of  ore,  efpecially  of 
the  bog  kind.  Near  the  forge  are  works  for  the 
making  of  potafh,  where  large  quantities  are  man 
ufactured  yearly.  About  a  mile  below,  on  this 
fame  river,  is  a  grift  mill  which  fails  not  to  grind 
through  the  year.  Thus  there  are  four  corn,  and 
four  faw  mills  within  the  town. 

There  are,  in  this  town,  curious  works  for  the 
conveyance  of  water  to  a  great  diftance,  the  prop 
erty,  contrivance,  and  execution  of  Major  Hollo- 
way  Taylor.  I  know  not  that  there  are  any  fimi- 
lar  works  in  the  county,  and  would  therefore  de«- 
fcribe  them. 

From  fp rings  iffuing  out  of  ledges  of  rocks  on 
rifing  lands,  this  gentleman  has  raifed  a  fmall 
pond,  and  from  thence  brings  fine  water  (about 
feventy  rods,  through  bored  logs,  under  ground, 
not  only  in  low  lands,  but  in  fome  places  higher 

lands, 


NORTHBOROUGH.      279 

lands,  where  the  water  repeatedly  afcends  and  de- 
fcends)  into  the  back  part  of  his  houfe,  into  a 
large  vat,  near  three  feet  in  height,  by  a  tube, 
from  the  laft  log,  entering  the  bottom  of  the  vat, 
which  is,  or  may  be  kept  conftantly  full,  and  run 
ning  over  ;  and  the  fuperfluous  water  is  conveyed 
from  the  vat,  by  another  tube,  out  on  to  the  grafs 
land.  As  the  water  paffes  under  ground  nigh  the 
barn  yard  by  a  tube  from  a  log,  entering  the  bot 
tom  of  a  large  trough,  he  has  a  rich  fupply  of  wa 
ter  for  a  great  flock  of  cattle ;  and  fuch  is  the  qual 
ity  of  the  water  that  it  has  feldom  ever  been  known 
to  freeze  in  trough  or  vat.* 

The  general  growth  of  wood  in  the  town  is 
chefnut,  walnut,  the  feveral  forts  of  oak,  fome 
white  pine,  and  large  quantities  of  pitch  pine, 
which  of  late  years,  is  in  great  demand,  as  an  ex 
cellent  wood  for  fuel. 

Northborough  lies  about  thirty  fix  miles  from  the 
Statehoufe  in  Boflon,  and  is  eight  or  nine  degrees 
to  the  fouth  of  weft  ;  and  is  ten  miles  from  the 
courthoufe  in  Worcefter,  a  few  degrees  to  the 
north  of  eaft.  This  town  is  greatly  benefited  by 

the 

*  As  this  account  may  be  read  by  fame  not  much  acquainted  with  natu~ 
ral  philofophy,  and  who  therefore  may  think  it  incredible  that  water  can 
be  made  to  pafs  over  rifmg  grounds,  and  through  low  lands,  alternately,  as 
in  this  cafe,  and  then  rife  to  fuch  a  height  in  the  houfe ;  (for  thefe  logs  are 
carried  along  under  ploughed  fields  and  mowing  lands  ;)  foj  the  fake  of 
fuch  it  ought  to  be  obferved,  that  water  may  be  conveyed  any  wher^  to  rife 
exaftly  to  the  height  of  the  fountain  or  pond  from  whence  it  proceeds ;  al 
though  it  cannot  be  carried  to  a  greater  height  in  its  way  to  the  place  in 
tended. 

Should  any  perfons  wifh  to  convey  water  in  this  manner,  they  may  be  in 
formed,  that  yellow  or  pitch  pine  logs  are  much  bed  for  the  purpofe  ;  they 
are  harder  and  more  durable  ;  thofe  of  chefuut  are  too  fpungy  and  porou,-. 


«8o   NORTHBOROUGH. 

the  publick  roads,  which  in  different  dire&ions 
pals  through  it.  Belides  the  pofl  road  from  Bof- 
ton  to  \Vorcefter,  (and  fo  to  the  feat  of  govern 
ment.)  which  runs  through  it  but  a  few  rods  fouth 
of  the  meetinghoufe  ;  there  is  another  from  Ncw- 
hampfhire  State,  and  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  of  Worcefter,  and  coming  through  Lan- 
cafter  or  Harvard,  and  Bolton  and  Berlin,  pafles 
dire&ly  through  this  town,  juft  by  the  meeting 
houfe,  and  eroding  the  pod  road,  leads  on  to 
Mendon  and  Providence.  The  road  alfo  from 
Worcefter  and  Shrewfbury,  through  Framingham 
to  Bofton,  paffes  through  the  fouth  part  of  the 
town  into  Weftborough.  There  is  alfo  a  road  of 
much  travel  from  Hubbardfton,  Princeton,  Hoi- 
den,  Sterling,  and  efpecially  Boylfion,  which 
coming  in  upon  the  northwefterly  part  of  the 
town,  paffes  direftly  in  front  of  the  meetinghoufe, 
and  then  in  the  fpace  of  about  fifty  rods,  falls  in 
to  the  pofl  road. 

Another  great  benefit  the  town  reaps,  is  from  the 
great  refort  of  people  from  all  the  neighbouring 
towns  to  the  corn  and  faw  mills,  to  the  fulling 
mill  and  forge,  and  to  the  blackfmiths',  for  their 
works  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  to  the  fhops  and 
Mores. 

Northborough  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Ber 
lin  ;  on  the  eafl,  by  Marlborough  and  Southbor- 
ough  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  Weftborough  ;  and  on 
the  weft,  by  Shrewfbury  and  Boylfton. 


HUBBARDSTON. 


28 1 

. 
HUBBARDSTON. 

• 

1  H  I  S  was  called  "  the  northeaft 
quarter  of  Rutland,"  being  wholly  included  in 
the  original  grant  of  that  town,  and  was  incorpo 
rated  on  the  13th  day  of  June,  1767,  and  called 
Hubbardfton,  to  perpetuate  the  name  and  memo 
ry  of  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  Hubbard,  Efq;  of 
Bofton,  who  had  been  fometime  fpeaker  of  the 
houfe  of  Representatives  ;  after  that,  feveral  years 
a  counfellor  of  the  then  province,  and  for  many 
years  treafurer,  and  of  courfe  a  member,  of  the  cor 
poration  of  Harvard  Univerfity  in  Cambridge. 
He  was  a  large  proprietor  of  lands  in  this  place. 

The  congregational  church  in  Hubbardfton  was 
imbodied  on  the  igth  of  June,  1770,  and  on  the 
fame  day  the  Rev.  Nehemiah  Parker  was  ordain 
ed  to  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  in  the  place, 
and  who  flill  continues  in  peace  and  love  with  the 
people,  and  miniftering  to  them  in  holy  things. 

We  proceed  to  a  defcription  of  this  place.  It 
is  about  fix  miles  fquare  ;  and  is  bounded  weft> 
by  Barre  ;  fouth,  by  Rutland  ;  eaft,  by  Princeton  ; 
northeaft,  by  Weftminfter  ;  and  north,  by  Gard 
ner,  Templeton  and  Gerry.  The  town  is  agreea 
bly  interfperfed  with  hills  and  valleys.  Perhaps 
about  a  twelfth  part  of  it  is  meadow  and  interval. 
The  uplands  are  generally,  excellent  for  grazing 
and  fome  confiderable  part  very  good  for  th« 
T  growth 


HUBBARDSTON. 

growth  of  EngliQi  grafs.  The  land  in  general,  is 
not  the  befl  for  grain  ;  though  in  common  years 
a  filfficiericy  is  raifed  for  the  inhabitants.  It  is 
rather  too  cold  for  orcharding,  although  there  are 
*  number  of  flourifliing  orchards  in  the  town,  and 
fome  years  a  confiderable  quantity  of  cider  is 
made.  Hills  there  are  feveral  in  the  town,  how- 
erer,  but  two  which  we  mail  notice  :  The  largeft, 
in  the  northwefterly  part  of  the  town,  extends  quite 
through  it,  from  Templeton  to  Barre ;  this  is  call 
ed  Burnfhirt  Hill,  and  is  moft  excellent  land.  The 
other  is  called  Read's  Hill,  fituated  about  one  mile 
and  an  half  eaft  from  the  centre  of  the  town  ;  this 
is  alfo  very  good  land. 

It  is  fuppofed  this  town  is  rich  in  iron  ore,  at 
leafl ;  there  is  a  hill  in  the  north  part  of  it,  extend 
ing  into  Templeton,*  where  a  number  of  gentle 
men  from  Boflon  and  other  places,  wrought  near 
fifty  years  ago.  They  dug  feveral  rods  into  the 
hill,  in  queft  of  a  filver  mine  ;  but  whether  it  an- 
fwered  their  expectations  or  not,  was  not  divulged. 
A  war  commencing  put  a  flop  to  their  purfuit,  and 
it  has  never  lince  been  realfumed. 

The  town  is  finely  watered  by  fprings,  ftreams 
and  rivers  ;  There  are  five  rivers  and  ftreams  no 
ticeable,  which  pafs  through  the  town  from  north 
to  fouth.  The  moft  eafterly  of  thefe  is  called 
Pifs  River,  part  whereof  comes  from  Weftminfter, 
and  part  from  the  weft  fide  of  Watchufett  Hill  in 
Princeton.  The  next  is  called  Ware  River,  which 
heads  in  Hubbardfton.  The  next  is  a  fmallcr 
ftream,  called  Meadow  Brook,  which  takes  its  rife 

in 

*  Sec  thit  alfo  noticed  in  the  account  of  Tcmplcte*. 


HUBBARDSTON.         283 

in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  Further  weft  is  an 
other  ftream  called  Conneyftow  Brook,  which  has 
its  fource  in  Templeton.  The  moft  wefterly 
ftream  is  known  by  the  name  of  Eurnjhirt  River, 
the  principal  branch  of  which  comes  from  Gerry. 
All  thefe  ftreams  running  a  foutherly  dire6tion, 
unite  in  the  eaft  part  of  Barre,  where  their  names, 
as  well  as  waters,  are  fwallowed  up  in  Ware  Riv 
er.  Otter  River,  fo  called,  which  rifes  in  Temple- 
ton,  runs  in  the  north  part  of  this  town,  and  then 
turning,  falls  back  into  Templeton,  and  at  length, 
unites  with  Miller's  River.*  On  thefe  rivers  and 
ftreams,  within  the  town  of  Hubbardfton,  there 
are  eleven  faw  mills,  five  grift  mills,  and  one 
clothiers'  works.  There  are  alfo  works  for  making 
potafh  in  the  town. 

There  are  three  ponds  in  Hubbardfton.  The 
largeft  of  thefe,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Great 
Afnaconcomick  Pond,  is  about  two  miles  from  the 
centre  of  the  town,  to  the  eaft  :  It  is  a  mile  and  a 
half  in  length,  from  north  to  fouth  ;  the  breadth 
is  various,  from  half  a  mile  to  five  rods,  fuppofed 
to  cover  about  three  hundred  acres.  About  half 
a  mile  further  to  the  northeaft,  is  fituated  Little 
Afnaconcomick  Pond,  of  a  circular  form  ;  and 
what  merits  particular  notice  is  this,  that  for  a 
confiderable  part  of  the  way  round  this  pond, 
there  is  every  appearance  that  once  a  ftone  wall 
was  built,  or  building.  In  fome  places  it  is  two 
feet  and  an  half  in  height,  as  if  laid  up  by 
the  hands  of  men  ;  and  where  there  is  not  one 
T  2  ftone 

*  Sef  this  more  particularly  icfcribed  m  the  account  of  Tctnpletoa. 


284         HUBBARDSTON. 

ftone  upon  another,  the  appearance  is  as  of  a  large 
ftone  wall  thrown  down.  If  this  was  the  work 
of  art,  when  and  by  whom  it  was  performed,  or 
wherefore,  perhaps  can  never  be  afcertained. 
Both  the  Ponds  before  defcribed  are  fed  by  fmali 
fprings.  There  is  a  fmall  outlet  from  each.  An 
other  fmall  pond  is  fituated  about  a  mile  north- 
weft  from  ths  centre  of  the  town  ;  it  is  called 
Natty  Pond,  which  has  both  an  inlet  and  an  outlet. 
The  growth  of  wood  in  this  place  is  chiefly  white 
pine  and  pitch  pine  in  great  plenty,  hemlock, 
beech,  maple  and  oak  ;  there  is  but  little  of  any 
other  fort. 

The  town  is  fettled  in  general,  with  induflrious 
farmers  ;  and  they  are  become  numerous,  and  are 
increafmg  in  wealth.  There  are  about  150  fami 
lies,  and  near  1000  fouls  in  the  place. 

Hubbardflon  is  fituated  (ixty  miles,  nearly  weft, 
from  Bofton  ;  and  twenty  from  the  courthoufe  in 
Worcefter,  to  the  northweit.  A  road  much  ufed, 
leads  through  the  town  from  the  fouth  to  the 
north,  in  which  people  pafs  from  Rhodeifland,  &c. 
&c.  to  the  wcftern  part  of  Newhampfhire,  and  to  the 
State  of  Vermont.  It  is  alfo  in  contemplation  to 
open  a  road  from  the  towns  on  Connecticut  river, 
in  the  county  of  Hampfhirc,  through  Peterftiam,  to 
Hubbardfton,  and  fo  on  through  Princeton  and 
Lancafter,  to  Bofton.  This  undoubtedly,  would 
be  the  neareft  route,  from  Hadley  and  towns  adja 
cent,  to  the  metropolis  of  the  Commonwealth. 


NORTHBRIDGE, 


NORTHBRIDGE. 

1  HE  town  of  Northbridge  takes  its 
name  from  its  fituation  and  bearing  with  refpe&  to 
Uxbridge,  from  which  it  was  chiefly  taken  ;  five  or 
fix  families  only  being  fet  off  to  it  from  Sutton 
fouth  or    firft   parifh.       It  is   about  five  miles  in 
length,  and  about  four  in  width  ;  and  is  bounded, 
by  Uxbridge,  on  the  fouth  ;    by  Sutton,   on  the 
weft  ;  by  Grafton,  on  the  north  ;  and  by  Mendon 
and  Upton,  on  the  eaft  and  northeaft.     It  was  in 
corporated  on  the  i4th  of   July,   1778.      It  is  not 
large,   having,  at  the  time  of  the  late  enumeration 
83   houfes,  and  570   inhabitants.     The  congrega 
tional  church  here    was  imbodied,   June  the  6th, 
1782,  and  on   the  25th  of  June,    1783,  the   Rev. 
John  Crane  was  ordained   their  paftor.    Here  alfo 
there  is  a  fociety  of  Baptifts  of  about  ten  families  ; 
at  prefent  deflitute  of   any  fettled  teacher.     There 
are    alfo  within  the  town  twelve  families  of  Quak 
ers,  and  two  or  three  of  the  Univerfalifts. 

We  mail  proceed  to   fome  Topographical    De- 
fcription  of  this  place. 

It  is  uneven  and  fomewhat  rocky  and  rough ;  but 
the  land  and  foil,  in  general,  rich,  ftrong  and 
good.  As  it  has  alternately,  high  and  low  lands, 
it  is  well  calculated  for  orcharding,  for  pafture 
and  grafs  land,  and  bears  rye,  Indian  corn,  oats, 
flax,  &c.  Hills  there  are  none  high,  or,  on  any 
account  remarkable.  The  meetinghoufe  indeed, 
T  3  ftands 


286        N  O  R  T  H  B  R  I  D  G  E. 

(lands  on  an  eminence,  and  commands  a  good 
profpeft  for  four  or  five  miles  round.  As  the 
lands  in  general  are  high,  the  air  is  falubrious, 
and  the  inhabitants  have  been  blefled  with  great 
health  from  the  firft  fettlement  of  the  place. 

There  are  no  ftagnant  waters  or  ponds  in  the 
town  :  But  it  is  finely  watered  by  fprings,  ftrcams 
and  rivets.  Two  of  thefe  are  noticeable  :  Black- 
ftone  River,  which  originates  in  Sutton,  and  paff- 
ing  through  the  wefterly  part  of  Grafton,  enters 
this  town,  and  runs  from  north  to  fouth  the  whole 
length  of  the  town,  on  the  wefterly  fide  thereof. 
This  is  a  large  and  fine  river  ;  and  upon  this 
there  are  great  bodies  of  very  excellent  interval 
lands  :  Some  of  thefe  are  high,  and  bear  corn  and 
flax  ;  the  lower  are  good  for  grafs. 

There  is  another  river,  not  fo  large,  which  en 
ters  this  town  in  the  fouthweft  part  from  Douglafs, 
and  joins  Blackftone  River.  On  this  river  there  is 
a  quantity  of  valuable  meadow  :  But  the  land  ad 
joining  the  meadow  is  not  the  mod  fertile. 

There  are  within  the  town,  two  corn  mills,  one 
faw  mill,  and  one  forge,  where  much  work  is  per 
formed- 

The  growth  of  wood,  on  the  high  lands  is  very 
valuable,  confiding  of  walnut,  oak  and  chefnut ; 
that  on  the  low  lands  is  lefs  valuable,  but  like  that 
of  other  towns  in  general  ;  the  quantity  of  pine 
timber  is  fmall.  The  people  here  fubfift,  chiefly 
t>y  farming  ;  they  have  the  character  of  an  induftri- 
pus  and  flourifhjng  people  ;  and  it  is  faid  there  is 

hardly. 


B    A    R    R    E. 

hardly  an  idle  perfon,  or  a  tavern  haunter  in  the 
place. 

Northbridge  is  fituated  forty  three  miles  from 
Bofton,  nearly  fouthweft  ;  and  from  the  courthoufe- 
in  Worcefter,  it  is  twelve  miles,  lying  about  fouth- 
eaft.  The  road  from  Bofton,  through  Mendon 
and  Oxford,  to  Connecticut,  pafles  through  this 
town  :  And  the  neareft  and  moft  direft  road  to 
Providence,  from  Worcefter,  would  pafs  about 
half  a  mile  weft  of  Northbridge  meetinghoufe. 


B      A      R      R      E. 


1  HIS  was  the  northweft  part  of  Rut 
land  Original  Grant  ;  it  was  made  a  diftricl; 
by  aft  of  the  Legiflature  in  the  year  1749,  and 
called  Rutland  Diftricl:,  until  June  14th,  1774, 
when  it  was  made  a  town,  and  the  name  of  Barrt 
was  given  to  it,  as  a  token  of  refpect  to  a  great  and 
worthy  friend  of  America,  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  Britifti  Houfe  of  Commons.  Barre  is  bound 
ed  on  the  north,  by  Peterfham  ;  on  the  eaft,  by 
Hubbardfton  ;  on  the  foutheaft,  by  Rutland  ;  on 
the  fouth,  by  Oakham  ;  on  the  fouthweft,  by 
Neivbraintree  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Hardwick. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  this  place,  was  gathered 
July  3Oth,  1753,  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Frink  was 
T  4  inftalled 


B     A    R     R     £. 

inftalled  their  paflor,  on  the  laft  Wednefday  in 
O&ober  following.  Mr.  Frink  was  the  firft  minif- 
tfer  of  Rutland,  and  being  difmiffed  from  thence,  he 
was  inflalled  a  paflor  of  the  third  church  in  Ply 
mouth,  November  yth,  1743,  where  he  continued 
but  a  little  time  before  his  removal.  He  continu 
ed  in  the  miniftry  at  Barre,  but  about  thirteen 
years,  being  difmiiTed  from  his  facred  office,  by 
advice  of  an  ecclefiaftical  council  July  lyth,  1766. 
He  was  fucceeded  in  the  paftoral  office  at  Barre, 
by  the  Rev.  Jonah  Dana,  who  was  confecrated 
hereunto  Oftober  7th,  1767.  Mr.  Dana  con 
tinues  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  in  this 
place,  and  in  peace  and  efteem  with  the  people  of 
his  charge. 

The  following  forrowful  occurrence  took  place 
in  this  town.  In  March,  1780,  the  houfe  of  Mr. 
Peter  Bent  was  confumed  by  fire  in  the  night, 
with  almofl  every  thing  contained  therein,  and  two 
of  his  children,  a  fon  and  .daughter,  of  adult  age, 
peiifhed  in  the  flames. 

The  town  of  Barre  is  large  in  extent,  being 
rather  more  than  fix  miles  fquare  :  And  it  is  one 
of  the  beft  townmips  of  land  in  the  county  ;  the 
foil  is  exceedingly  rich  and  flrong.  The  land  in 
general,  is  very  hilly  and  uneven.  The  hills,  in 
deed,  are  not  fo  very  high,  but  fome  are  fteep, 
and  being  fomewhat  rocky,  the  roads  are  not  fo 
good  :  But  this  is  commonly  the  cafe  in  moft  towns 
where  the  foil  is  excellent,  and  moift  :  The  town  is 
well  watered  by  numerous  fprings  and  rivulets, 
and  the  people  enjoy  great  advantages  for  turning 

and 


B    A    R    R    E, 

and  conveying  the  water  over  their  grafs  land. 
The  foil  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  mowing  and 
pafturage  ;  and  here  they  fat  great  multitudes  of 
cattle,  and  make  the  beft  of  beef.  Here  alfo  they 
have  many  and  large  dairies  ;  and  it  is  fuppofed 
that  more  butter  and  cheefe  is  carried  from  hence 
into  the  market,  annually,  than  from  any  other 
town  of  the  fame  extent.  The  foil  bears  Indian 
corn  well  ;  but  it  is  not  fo  well  adapted  to  Englifh 
grain  as  fome  other  places.  However,  they  raife 
a  fufficiency  of  all  kinds  for  themfelves,  and  con- 
fiderable  for  exportation.  As  the  town  is  uneven 
and  hilly,  it  affords  no  large  and  commanding  view 
of  itfelf,  but  from  the  hills  there  is  an  extenfive 
profpecl;  into  other  towns.  The  pleafantnefs  of 
Barre  confifts  in  the  richnefs  and  fertility  of  the 
land,  and  the  large,  handfome,  well  finifhed  build 
ings  of  all  kinds  ;  but  from  no  one  place  can 
many  of  them  be  feen  at  once.  The  farms  are 
large,  and  very  productive  :  The  people  are  induf- 
trious,  and  they  have  great  encouragement  to  la 
bour  :  Their  modes  of  hufbandry  are  good,  and 
there  are  fure  indications  of  wealth  and  opulence  all 
over  the  town.  And  indeed  it  is  one  of  the  fore- 
mofl  towns  in  the  county,  there  being  but  three 
which  pay  more  to  a  State  tax.  It  is  become  nu 
merous,  having,  when  the  late  cenfus  was  taken, 
upwards  of  1600  inhabitants,  although  but  one  re 
ligious  fociety  ;  and  they  have  the  largeft  meeting- 
houfe  in  the  county,  fifty  fix  by  feventy  four  feet. 
The  general  growth  of  wood  in  the  town,  is  large 
and  plenty,  confifting  of  oak  of  all  kinds,  efpecial- 


igo  B    A    R    R     E. 

ly  an  unufual  proportion  of  white  oak  ;  confidcr- 
able  chefnut,  fome  walnut  ;  birch,  beech,  afli, 
white  pine,  pitch  pine,  fome  hemlock,  &c.  There 
is  one  large  river,  called  Ware  River,  which  com 
ing  from  Templeton,  through  the  wefterly  part  of 
Hubbardfton,  pafTes  through  the  eafterly  and 
foutherly  parts  of  Barre,  and  then  runs  into  Hard- 
wick.  There  is  alfo  a  ftream  originating  in  Gerry 
which  runs  through  the  town  on  the  eafterly  fide, 
within  a  mile  of  the  meetinghoufe,  called  Pleafant 
Branch  :  This  falls  into  Ware  River,  in  the  fouth 
part  of  the  town.  In  the  north  part  of  the  town, 
on  the  wefterly  fide,  rifes  another  ftream  from 
fprings,  which  is  called  Moofe  Brook,  which  runs 
into  Hardwick,  and  there  empties  itfelf  into  Ware- 
River.  On  thefe  ftreams  there  are  fome  meadows, 
and  very  good  interval  lands  on  Ware  River  in 
the  foutherly  part  of  the  town.  On  this  river, 
and  on  thefe  ftreams  there  are  four  grift  mills,  fev- 
eral  faw  mills,  and  clothiers'  works. 

The  people  in  Barre  fubfift,  mainly,  by  farm 
ing  ;  here  are,  however,  all  the  ufual  tradefmen 
and  mechanicks,  and  two  or  three  dealers  in  Eu 
ropean,  Eaft  and  Weft  India  goods  ;  here  alfo  the 
pot  and  pearl  afh  works  are  carried  on. 

Barre  is  fituated  fixty  fix  miles  from  Bofton 
about  weft  ;  and  it  is  about  twenty  four  miles  from 
the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter,  about  northweft. 


WARD, 


291 


WARD. 

1  HIS  place  was  not  an  original  grant, 
but  was  taken  from  feveral  other  towns,  as  Wor 
cefter,  Oxford,  Sutton  and  Leicefter,  together  with 
a  gore  of  land  lying  between  Oxford  and  Leicef 
ter,  not  previoufly  belonging  to  any  town.  On 
the  23d  of  June,  1773,  this  place  was  erected 
into  a  poll  parifhj  and  commonly  called  the 
fouth  parifh  of  Worcefter.  The  parifh  was  limit 
ed  and  bounded  in  the  following  manner  :  It  was 
to  extend  three  miles  into  Worcefter,  a«  the  roads 
were  then  trod  ;  three  into  Oxford,  and  three  in* 
to  Leicefter  by  their  roads,  and  one  mile  and  an 
half  into  Sutton,  from  the  meetinghoufe  place. 
This  place  as  above  defcribed,  was  incorporated 
and  made  a  diftincl:  town,  and  vefted  with  all  the 
privileges  which  other  towns  enjoy,  by  an  a£l  of 
the  Legiflature,  April  loth,  1778,  when  it  received 
the  name  of  Ward,  as  a  compliment  to  the  Hon. 
Major  General  Artemas  Ward,  Efq;  of  Shrewfbury, 
and  now  Representative  of  this  county  in  the  Con- 
grefs  of  the  United  States  of  America.  The  town  is 
bounded  northerly  on  Worcefter  ;  eafterly,  by 
Grafton  ;  foutheaft,  by  Sutton  ;  fouth,  by  Ox 
ford  ;  and  wefterly,  by  Leicefter. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  Ward  was  imbodied  on 
the  25th  of  January,  1776  ;  and  on  the  3d  of  No 
vember, 


WARD. 

vember,  1784,  the  Rev.  Ifaac  Bailey  was  ordained 
to  the  paftoral  care  thereof,  and  flill  continues  in 
the  facred  office. 

We  lhall  now  prefent  the  reader  with  a  Geo 
graphical  Defcription  of  the  town  of  Ward. 

It  is  confidered,  by  good  judges,  as  a  moft  excel 
lent  trafl:  of  land  :  The  foil  in  general  is  fertile, 
rich  and  ftrong,  fuilable  for  orcharding  and  all 
kinds  of  fruit  ;  well  adapted  to  pafturage  and 
mowing,  and  produces  large  crops  of  rye,  oats, 
wheat,  barley,  Indian  corn,  and  flax.  It  is  not 
very  rocky  ;  but  affords  flone  fuflicient  for  fenc 
ing  in  the  farms  :  It  is  not  level,  but  rather  une 
ven,  abounding  in  hills  and  valleys..  The  hills, 
however  are  not  high  ;  but  the  lands  on  them  are 
good.  Part  of  the  hill,  called  Profpeft  Hill,  to 
the  fouth,  lies  within  this  town  ;  alfo  part  of  the 
hill,  called  Boggachoag,  to  the  north  ;  and  part  of 
the  hill,  called  Grajfy  Hill,  to  the  foutheaft  of  the 
meetinghoufe.  On  and  near  thefe  hills,  there  are 
very  fine  farms.  The  general  growth  of  wood  is 
oak  of  the  various  forts,  chefnut,  walnut,  on  the 
high  lands  ;  and  in  the  lower  lands,  pine,  maple, 
cedar,  &c.  &c. 

The  town  is  as  well  watered,  by  fprings  and  pe 
rennial  rivulets,  as  perhaps  any  other  town  in  the 
county.  The  courfe  of  the  dreams  is  circuitous, 
and  fo  meandering  as  greatly  to  benefit  the  town. 
The  principal  dream  is  that  which  is  called  French 
River.  There  is  another,  called  Kettle  Brook, 
which  paffes  through  the  town.  On  thefe  ftreams 
there  are  four  faw  mills  and  two  grift  mills,  within 

the 


M    I    L    F    O  .  R.   D.  293 

the  town,  alfo  one  clothiers'  works  ;  be  fides  which 
there  is  a  wind  mill  ere&ed  on  Profpeft  Hill,  which 
does  confiderable  work. 

There  are  three  or  four  fmall  ponds  in  the 
town,  the  largeft  of  which  covers  perhaps,  about 
thirty  acres,  fituated  about  a  mile  fouth  of  the 
meetinghoufe.  There  is  an  outlet  from  this  pond, 
to  the  north,  ufually  called  Dark  Brook  ;  and 
there  is  an  inlet  from  the  fouth,  while  the  pond  is 
in  its  natural  ftate,  but  by  an  artificial  raifing  of 
this  pond  about  four  feet,  the  current  in  the  inlet 
is  reverfed,  and  the  difcharge  of  water  is  to  the  fouth. 

The  town  is  not  large,  but  it  is  wealthy  ;  there 
are  about  80  houfes  ;  about  90  families,  and 
when  they  were  numbered  there  were  473  fouls  : 
It  is  fituated  fifty  five  miles  from  Bofton,  a  little  tp 
the  fouthweft  j  and  five  miles  from  the  courthowfe 
in  Worcefter,  almoft  fouth. 


M     I    L     F     O     R     D. 

1  HIS  place  was  the  northeafterly  part 
of  the  ancient  town  of  Mendon  :  It  was  fet  off 
from  Mendon  as  a  precin6l,  or  parifh,  in  the  year 
1741,  and  was  commonly  known  by  the  appella 
tion  of  Mill  River.  It  was  incorporated  and  in- 
vefted  with  all  diftincl;  town  privileges,  on  the  elev 
enth 


M    1     L     F    O     R     D. 

enth  of  April,  1780.  Soon  after  it  was  made  % 
parifh,  a  congregational  church  was  here  gathered, 
viz.  on  the  i5th  of  April,  1741,  confiding  of 
twenty  fix  male  members  ;  and  on  the  2  ift  of  De 
cember,  1743,  the  Rev.  Amariah  Frofl,  was  fol- 
emnly  invefled  with  the  paftoral  office  in  the 
place.  Some  time  after  the  fettlement  of  Mr. 
Frofl.  a  feparation  took  place  here  ;  a  Mr.  Hovey 
preached  to  the  difaffefted,  and  was  ordained  a- 
mong  them.  He  tarried  but  a  few  years  ; 
fince  his  time  preaching  by  itinerants  and  lay 
men,  and  meetings  held  occafionally  on  the 
fabbath,  have  been  continued  among  them.  A 
number,  not  large,  believing  in  the  falvation  of 
all  men,  have  kept  up  publick  meetings,  and  fome- 
times  had  preaching.  There  are  a  few  anabaptifls 
in  this  place,  and  but  one  family  of  friends  or 
quakers.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Frofl  continued  the  wor 
thy  and  faithful  paftor  of  the  congregational 
church  in  Milford,  until  March  14th,  1792,  when 
he  died  in  the  feventy  fecond  year  of  his  age,  and 
the  forty  ninth  of  his  miniflry. 

An  addition  to,  and  a  general  repair  of  their 
meetinghoufe  was  made  in  179?,  and  it  is  now 
a  very  decent  and  convenient  building. 

There  has  been  greater  candour  and  moderation 
of  late  between  thofe  of  different  fentiments  in 
this  town,  than  formerly  was  difcovered ;  and  it  is 
hoped  greater  unanimity  will  take  place  in  the  rc- 
fettlement  of  the  gospel  miniflry  among  them. 

We  proceed  to  a  Geographical  Defcription  of 
the  town  of  Milford. 

Milford 


M    I     L    F    O    R    D.  295 

Milford  is  fituated  on  the  eafterly  fide  of  the 
county  ;  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Hop- 
kinton  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Hollifton,  in  the  county 
of  Middlefex  ;  on  the  foutheaft,  by  Bellingham  in 
the  county  of  Suffolk ;  on  the  weft,  and  fouthweft, 
by  Mendon  ;  and  on  the  northweft,  by  Upton.  It  is 
fituated  fouthweft  from  Bofton,  at  the  diftance  of 
thirty  four  miles  ;  and  from  Worcefter  courthoufe, 
it  is  foutheaft,  diftant  twenty  miles  ;  and  it  is 
twenty  five  miles  from  Providence. 

The  town  of  Milford  is  not  a  level,  champaign 
traft  of  land,  neither  yet  is  it  very  hilly  and  uneven ; 
there  is  indeed,    one  large  hill,    a  little  from  the 
centre  of  the  town,   to   the  foutheaft,    called  Bear 
Hill.       This    is    moftly    very    good   land.      The 
whole  of  the  north  part  of  the    town  is  high  and 
good  land   j   it  rifes   by    a  gradual  afcent  ;    and 
from  the  higheft  places  there  is  a  large  and  varie 
gated  profpecl  ;  from   thefe  heights  may  be  feen 
the  Watchufetts  and  Monadnock  mountains,  as  al- 
fo  the  hills  fouth  of  Bofton.     This  northern  part 
was  a  purchafe  from  the  Indians,  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  ancient  townfhip  of  Mendon  ;  and  was  com 
monly  called  the  North  Purchafe.     This  part  is  the 
moft  diftant  from  themeetinghoufe  in  Milford ;  and 
in  this  quarter,  the  fe&ariesin  the  town  have  ufually 
held  their  religious  meetings.     The  northern  and 
weftern  parts  of  the  town,  efpecially,  are  rough  and 
rocky  ;  but  the  foil  is  generally  ftrong  and  good  ; 
and  well  adapted  to  orcharding,  grafs  and  paftur- 
age,  and   fuffers  but  little  by  a  dry  feafon.     They 
raife  grain  here  of  all  kinds  in  fufficient  quantities 

moft 


296  M    I     L     F     O     R     D. 

mod  commonly  for  themfelves  ;  but  their  articles 
of  produce  for  market,  arc  chiefly  butter,  cheefc, 
pork,  beef,  &c.  perhaps  equal  in  quality  to  any  in 
the  county.  There  are  but  few  mechanicks  in  the 
place,  and  feldom  more  than  two  traders  in  Eu 
ropean  and  India  goods.  The  people  fubfift  main 
ly  by  the  bufmefs  of  hufbandry,  and  are  induftri- 
ous  and  good  livers.  The  town  is  fuppofed  to 
contain  about  as  much  as  five  miles  fquare.  There 
are  135  dwelling  houfes,  and  840  inhabitants  in 
the  town,  according  to  the  late  cenfus. 

There  are  two  rivers  running  through  this  town, 
from  north  to  fouth,  nearly  parallel  with  each 
other,  about  one  mile  and  an  half  diftant,  in  fonie 
places  not  fo  much  ;  one  on  the  weft,  the  other 
on  the  call  fide  of  the  town  :  Thefe  have  their 
fources  in  the  high  lands  beforementioned,  in  the 
borders  of  Hopkinton.  That  on  the  weft  is  called 
Mill  River,  the  name  by  which  this  place  was  de- 
lignated  until  its  incorporation,  this  is  large,  run 
ning  through  the  eafterly  part  of  Mendon,  it  paffes 
to  Providence.  That  on  the  eaft  is  a  principal 
bianch  of  Charles's  River,  which  foon  turns  and 
runs  eafterly,  and  falls  into  the  fea  in  Bofton  har 
bour.  Mill  River  is  the  outlet  of  a  large  pond, 
faid  to  be  a  mile  in  length,  partly  in  Milford,  but 
principally  in  Hopkinton  and  Upton,  called  North 
Pond.  There  is  another  pond,  a  little  more  than 
a  mile  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  called  Cedar 
Swamp  Pond  ;  this  is  fmall,  though  there  be  plenty 
of  fifh  therein,  as  in  the  other;  the  branch  of  Charles's 
River  fpoken  of  above,  runs  directly  through 

this 


M    I     L     F    O    R    D.  297 

this  pond.  There  are  very  good  meadows,  and  in 
terval  lands  upon  the  borders  of  both  the  rivers 
defcribed  before,  as  well  as  fmall  pieces  in  other 
parts  of  the  town,  which  are  a  fmgular  advantage 
to  the  farmers.  The  town  abounds  in  fp rings, 
rivulets  and  brooks  in  all  parts  :  And  on  the  riv 
ers  and  ftreams  they  have  four  grift  mills,  three  faw 
mills,  one  clothiers"  works,  and  one  trip  hammer 
within  the  limits  of  Milford. 

The  growth  of  wood  in  this  town  is  oak  of  all 
forts,  chefnut,  walnut,  &c.  there  is  very  little  pine 
or  cedar  at  this  day. 

The  roads  in  this  town  are  not  good,  efpecially 
for  carriages  ;  but  they  may  be  made  in  time,  much 
better  than  at  prefent. 

We  mail  clofe  our  account  of  Milford,  with 
mentioning,  that  in  this  place  was  born  Alexander 
Scammell,  Efq;  who  graduated  at  Harvard  Univer- 
fity,  A.  D.  1769  ;  who  was  appointed  a  furvey- 
or  of  mail  timber,  &c.  in  Maflachufetts,  and 
province  of  Maine,  under  the  Britifh  government  ; 
was  Brigade  Major  in  the  American  army,  in  1775  j 
a  Colonel  in  the  year  1777,  at  the  taking  of  Gen. 
Burgoyne,  and  Adjutant  General  of  the  army  at 
Yorktown,  where  he  was  unfortunately  wounded 
in  reconnoitering,  September  30,  i78i,juft  before 
the  furrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  of  which  wound 
he  foon  after  died. 


U  STERLING. 


298 


STERLING. 


1  HIS  was  for  many  years,  the  fecond 
parifh  in  Lancafler,  and  was  commonly  called 
Chockfet.  It  was  made  a  feparate  parifh  in  the  year 
1743,  and  remained  united  with  Lancafler  until 
April  25th,  1781,  when  it  was  incorporated  by  aft 
of  the  Legiflature,  and  received  its  prefent  name, 
in  compliment  to  Lord  Sterling,  of  Newjerfey, 
who  ferved  as  a  General  in  the  American  army,  in 
the  late  war  between  Greatbritain  and  thefe  United 
States.  This  is  a  large,  populous,  and  wealthy 
town  ;  is  about  feven  miles  in  length,  from  north 
to  fouth,  and  fix  in  width  from  eaft  to  weft.  It  is 
fituated  about  five  miles  from  Lancafter,  a  little  to 
the  fouth  of  weft,  on  the  road  to  Princeton.  It  is 
bounded  by  Holden  and  Princeton  on  the  weft ; 
eight  miles  from  Holden,  and  feveri  from  Prince 
ton,  fix  miles  from  Boylfton,  which  lies  to  the 
fouth  of  it ;  and  from  Leominfter,  on  the  north,  it 
is  feven  miles. 

This  town  is  rather  hilly  and  uneven,  though 
there  is  very  little  broken,  or  wafte  land  in  it.  It 
is  not  very  rocky,  but  a  moft  excellent,  fertile  foil, 
producing  in  rich  abundance,  to  repay  the  huf- 
bandman  for  its  cultivation.  The  high  lands  are 
excellent  for  all  kinds  of  fruits,  efpecially  apples  ; 
and  here  are  large  orchards ;  alfo,  for  grafs  and 

grazing  ; 


STERLING. 

grazing  ;  for  the  land  is  naturally  moift,  and 
by  the  help  of  the  rivulets,  the  water  may  be  turn 
ed  over  the  fides  of  moil  of  the  hills.  As  the  town 
is  very  uneven,  there  is  no  extended  profpeft. 
Neverthelefs,  the  fertility  of  the  foil,  the  hi#h  de 
gree  of  cultivation,  and  the  interfperfion  of  hills 
and  valleys,  afford  peculiar  gratification  to  the  eyes 
of  obferving  travellers.  The  meetinghoufe  is  in, 
a  valley  ;  and  on  the  road,  in  this  valley,  there  is 
a  large  colle&ion  of  tradefmen  and  mechanicks 
and  they  are  lively,  aftive  and  induftrious. 

But  the  bulk  of  the  people  are  large  farmers,  and, 
as  the  bounteous  Author  of  Nature  has  blefTed  them. 
with  a  fruitful  foil,  they  have  great  encouragement 
to  labour.  Though  the  town  be  hilly,  as  above 
obferved,  yet  there  are  but  two  worthy  of  particu 
lar  notice.  The  firftis  Red/lone  Hill,  fo  called  from 
the  colour  of  the  ftones  which  are  upon  it. 

This  lies  about  a  mile  from  the  meetinghoufe, 
on  the  road  leading  from  Sterling  to  Lancafler. 

The  fecond  is  called  Jufiice's  Hill,  which  is  fit- 
uated  about  four  miles  northweft  from  the  meet 
inghoufe,  on  the  road  leading  to  Weftminfter. 

There   is  but  one  river  in  the  town,  called  Still 
River,  from  the  flow  motion  of  its  waters  ;  for  after 
it  enters  this   town,  it  runs  in   a  vale  for  feveral 
miles,  with  but  a  fmall  defcent.  The  waters  which 
form    this  river,  are  furnimed  from  three  diflincl; 
fources.     The  weftern  branch  iffues  from  the  foot 
of   Mount    Watchufett,    in   Princeton,    and   after 
various  meanders,  and  receiving  acceflions  by  fev 
eral  rivulets,  which  originate  in  the  eaflern  fide  of 
U  2  Princeton 


3<x>          STERLING. 

Princeton  hills,  joins  the  others  a  little  north  of  the 
road   leading  from    Sterling  to  Princeton.     This 
branch  bears  the  name  of   Hartzvell's  River,  upon 
frhich  are    feveral    valuable   mills.     The    middle 
branch  originates  in  Gardner's  Meadows,  which  are 
in  the  northcaftern  part  of  Princeton  ;  This  is  the 
largefl  of  the   three  branches  ;   and  carries  feveral 
mills.    The  eaftern  branch  which  is  called  Jujlice* 
River,   has   its  fource  in  the   fouthwefterly   part 
of   Leorninfter  ;    and    taking  its   courfe,   through 
Juftice's  Meadows,   which  lie  on   the  weft  fide  of 
Juftice's  Hill,  and  receiving   feveral  brooks,   emp 
ties  itfelf  into  the  main  ft  ream,  or  Still  River.    Af 
ter  the  confluence  of  thefe  branches  the  river  takes 
a  fouthern  direclion  along  the  weftern  fide  of  Ster 
ling,   for  feveral  miles,    until   it  enters  Boylfton, 
thence  taking  a  circuitous  route  through  the  wefter- 
ly  and  northerly  parts   of  Boylfton,  lofes  its  name 
in  Namaway,  or  Lancafter   River.      On  the  banks 
of  this  river  in  Sterling  there   is  fome  pitch  pine 
plain,  fome  meadow  and  interval  land. 

There  is  one  confiderable  ftreamin  the  northerly 
part  of  the  town,  which  running  an  eaflerly  courfe, 
empties  itfelf  into  the;  north  branch  of  Namaway. 
.There  are  two  confiderable  ponds  in  Sterling  ; 
one   liss  by  the  coumy   road    to  Worcefter  ;  the 
other,  a  little  to    the  foutheaft  of  this  :  Thefe  are 
divided  by  a  neck  of  land  of  about  forty  rods,  in 
width,  at  the  narrowefl    place  ;  through  this   neck 
a  fmall  ftream  runs,  affording  a  paffage  for  the  fim 
from  one   pond  to   the    other.      From  the  weftern 
pond  iflues  a  confiderable  ftrcam,  fuflicient  to  car 
ry 


STERLING.  301 

ry  a  mill,  which  goes  from  November  to  May,  but 
no  longer,  as  the  mill  pond  ivould  flow  a  large 
body  of  meadow.  Thefe  are  called  Waujhacum 
Ponds  :  They  are  very  deep  in  fome  places.  Each 
pond,  upon  the  moft  exacl:  computation,  is  about 
one  mile,  and  a  quarter  in  diameter.  The  eaftern 
is  the  largeft  ;  but  the  weftern  the  i»oft  pleafant, 
on  feveral  accounts  ;  as  it  is  not  furrounded  with 
hills  like  the  eaftern  ;  and  as  it  has  in  it  an  ifland, 
containing  about  half  an  acre  of  land,  where  fi{h- 
ing  parties  often  repair  to  regale  themfelves  with 
fifh,  which  thefe  ponds  afford  in  plenty. 

There  are  two  or  three  things^  not  to  be  forgot 
ten  in  giving  the  hiflory  of  Sterling  :  One  is,  that 
near  the  neck  of  land  which  divides  Waumacum 
Ponds,  on  the  fouth  fide,  was  formerly  an  Indian 
fort  ;  and  near  this,  there  was  a  place  where  they 
buried  their  dead.  The  ruins  of  the  fort,  and  the 
graves  were  very  difcernible,  until  within  a  few 
years  paft,  when  by  ploughing  the  ground  thofe 
veftiges  of  antiquity  and  barbarifm  have  difappear- 
ed.  On  this  very  fpot  was  the  palace,  and  Royal 
feat  of  Sholan,  Sachem  of  the  Nafhaways,  and 
proprietor  of  Nafhawogg. 

Another  thing  to  be  mentioned  is  this  ;  that 
about  three  miles  northweft  from  the  meetinghoufe, 
on  the  road  leading  to  Weftminfter,  is  a  place 
called  The  Indian  Fight,  in  confequence  of  a  moft 
bloody  battle  fought  there  between  the  Englifh  and 
Indians,  on  Auguft  igth,  1707  ;  the  particulars  of 
which  we  gave  in  the  account  of  Laticafter,  to  which 
the  reader  is  referred. 

^  A 


302  STERLING. 

A  third  thing  not  to  be  omitted,  and  a  moft  for- 
rowful  Providence  indeed,  is  the  burning  of  the 
houfe  of  Mr.  Jonah  Wilder  of  this  town  in  Janu 
ary  1740;  in  which  conflagration  his  wife,  (preg 
nant,  and  near  the  time  for  her  delivery)  with  four 
fmall  children  befides,  perifhed  ;  another  child,  a 
fon,  the  father  plucked  as  a  brand  out  of  the  burn 
ing,  by  cutting  a  hole  through  the  fide  of  the 
houfe,  near  where  the  bed  was,  in  which  this  child 
lay,  and  pulled  him  out  thereat,  while  the  room 
was  full  of  fire  and  fmoke.  This  child  was  almoft 
fuffocated  ;  but  was  foon  recovered  and  lived  many 
years.' 

The  growth  of  wood  in  Sterling  is  mofl  excel 
lent,  and  of  the  following  forts,  oak  of  the  feveral 
kinds,  walnut,  chefnut,  on  the  high  lands  ;  and 
the  ufual  forts  in  the  low  lands  and  fwamps,  as 
birch,  maple,  am,  &c.  The  white  pine  timber  is 
chiefly  cut  off,  and  there  is  not  much  pitch  pine 
remaining,  and  at  this  day,  but  little  of  the  yellow 
pine. 

We  proceed  to  give  fome  account  of  the  eccleCU 
aflical  ftate  of  this  town. 

The  church  of  Chrift  here,  was  imbodied  on 
December  igth,  1744,  and  on  the  fame  day  their 
firft  minifler,  the  Rev.  John  Mellen,  was  ordained, 
who  continued  with  them  until  December  14th, 
1778,  when  his  paftoral  relation  to  them,  was  dif- 
folved,  by  mutual  agreement.  Soon  after,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Mellen  was  inftalled  paftor  of  the  church 
and  people  at  Hanover,  in  the  county  of  Plymouth, 
where  he  continues  to  great  acceptance.  To  Mr. 

Mellen, 


BERLIN.  303 

Mellen,  fucceeded  in  the  facred  work  of  the  min- 
iftry,  the  Rev.  Reuben  Holcomb,  whereunto  he 
was  folemnly  feparated  on  the  2d  of  June,  1779, 
and  who  Hill  continues  their  paftor. 

In  Sterling  died  Mr.  Sebaftian  Smith,  a  native 
of  old  Spain,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1765,  in  an 
advanced  age.  He  came  young  into  this  country 
and  living  a  fingle  life,  he  devoted  his  confidera- 
ble  eftate  to  pious  and  charitable  ufes.  Several 
years  before  his  death  he  gave  to  the  fociety,  a  fo 
lio  Bible,  that  a  portion  of  the  holy  fcriptures 
might  be  read,  on  Lord's  days,  to  the  congregation. 
He  gave  much  to  the  poor  in  his  life  time  ;  and 
by  will  alfo  :  And  likewife  furnifhed  the  com 
munion  table,  with  two  filver  tankards  ;  and  gave 
one  hundred  pounds  fterling  as  a  fund  for  fchool- 
ing  the  more  indigent  children  and  youth.  As 
fuch  deeds  come  up  as  a  memorial  before  God,  fo 
they  ought  to  be  kept  in  remembrance  among  men. 

Sterling  is  diftant  from  Bofton,  about  forty  fix 
miles,  nearly  weft  ;  and  from  the  courthoufe  in 
Worceller,  it  is  twelve  miles  a  little  to  the  north- 
eaft.  At  the  time  of  taking  the  cenfus  in  1791, 
there  were  in  the  town  209  dwelling  houfes,  and 
1428  inhabitants. 


BERLIN. 

ON  the  igth  of  April,  1778,  an  aft 
paffed  the  General  Court,  incorporating  a  fecond 
parifli  in  the  fouth  part  of  Bolton.     And  on  the 
U  4  i6tfa 


304  BERLIN. 

i6th  of  March,  1784,  this  precinct  was  creeled  in 
to  a  diftricl  by  the  name  of  Berlin,  at  which  time 
feveral  families,  with  about  five  hundred  acres  of 
land,  were  added,  from  the  northweft  corner  of 
Marlborough,  and  annexed  to  the  county  of  Wor- 
cefter.  Since  that  time,  a  few  families  have  been 
added  to  this  diftricl  from  the  foutheaft  part  of 
Lancafter.  This  diftricl  is  inverted  with  all  the 
immunities  and  privileges  of  a  town,  excepting  on 
ly  that  of  fending  a  reprefentative  to  the  General 
Court  ;  but  it  has  the  liberty  of  joining  with  Bol- 
ton  in  the  annual  choice  of  reprefentatives.  Here 
a  church  was  imbodied,  under  the  direclion  of  an 
ccclefiaftical  council,  by  a  covenant  bearing  date 
April  7th,  1779  ;  and  on  September  26th,  1781, 
the  Rev.  Reuben  Puffer  was  ordained  to  the  paf- 
toral  care  thereof. 

There  is  one  pond  in  the  eaft  part  of  the  diftricl, 
called  Gates's  Pond,  nearly  a  mile  in  length,  and 
from  a  quarter  to  half  of  a  mile  in  width  ;  it 
abounds  in  the  ufual  pond  fifh  ;  and  a  good  fand 
is  taken  up  near  its  mores  :  No  brook  empties  into 
it,  but  at  the  fouth  end  there  is  a  fmall  outlet, 
which  falls  into  the  river  Ajffabet.  There  is  alfo  a 
large  fwamp,  containing  many  hundred  acres,  ly 
ing  moftly  within  this  diftricl :  It  is  a  low,  funken 
tracl  of  land,  but  bears,  however,  fpruce  of  a  great 
height,  and  in  fome  parts  of  it,  white  pine  timber. 
The  moft  valuable  uplands  are  feated  on  feveral 
hills,  which  afford  excellent  pafturage  and  orch 
arding.  Wheat  has  been  raifed  on  fome  of  them 
LO  great  advantage.  One  lies  near  the  above 

narned 


BERLIN.  305 

named  pond,  and  contains  a  number  of  very  fine 
farms.  The  others  are  a  broken  range  of  hills, 
which,  beginning  about  a  mile  fouth  of  the  meet- 
inghoufe,  run  wefterly  until  they  meet  with  North- 
borough  hills,  then  ftretching  in  a  northern  direc 
tion,  cover,  with  a  few  interfeclions,  all  the  weft 
and  north  parts  of  the  diftricl:,  and  thus  they  con 
tinue  through  Bolton  and  Harvard,  to  Littleton  in 
the  county  of  Middlefex.  A  few  of  the  bluff 
points  of  thefe  high  lands  have  been  diuinguifhed 
with  arbitrary  names,  but  no  name  applies  to  the 
whole  range.  The  culture  of  hops  has  lately  been 
introduced  here,  and  by  the  experiments  already 
made,  bids  fair  to  prove  a  profitable  branch  of 
hufbandry.  On  the  farm  of  the  Hon.  Samuel 
Baker,  Efq;  in  the  northerly  part  of  the  diftricl:,  is 
found  a  quarry  of  mofl  valuable  ftone,  of  a  light 
gray  colour,  out  of  which  that  gentleman  has  built 
a  handfome,  large  manfion  houfe.  Thefe  flones 
are  remarkable  for  an  excellent  quality  which  re- 
fifteth  the  effects  of  fire. 

The  principal  ft  ream,  and  the  only  one  worthy 
of  particular  mention,  is  called  Norihbrook  ;  it  is 
formed  of  two  fmall  ftreams,  from  the  fouthweft, 
and  nor  thw  eft  which  uniting  about  a  mile  and  an  half 
weft  of  the  meetinghoufe,  afford  a  convenient  feat  for 
faw  and  grift  mills,  where  confiderable  buunefsis 
performed.  Taking  thence  a  foutheafterly  direction, 
it  runs  upwards  of  two  miles,  through  a  large  and 
rich  interval,  and  after  pafling  through  the  norlh- 
caft  corner  of  Northborough,  where  there  arc  alfo 
mills,  it  foon  falls  into  the  river  Alfabet  at  the 

foutheaft 


306  GARDNER. 

foutheaft   angle  of  the   diftrift.      Northbrook  is 
from  two  to  three  rods  in  width,  and  of  confidera- 
ble  depth  ;  and  formerly  it  yielded  great  quantities 
of  the  various  forts  of  frefh  water  fifh,  but  they  are 
of  late  exceedingly  diminifhed. 

The  diftrift  confifts  of  ninety  two  families,  of 
which  fourteen  are  of  the  fe&  called  quakers. 
The  latter  are  moftly  induflrious,  and  fome  of 
them  wealthy  farmers.  The  number  of  its  inhabi 
tants,  by  the  late  cenfus,  was  512.  It  lies  thirty 
four  miles  from  Bofton,  nearly  weft,  and  fifteen 
miles  from  the  courthoufe  in  Worcefler,  to  the 
northeaft.  Berlin  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by 
Bolton  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Marlborough  ;  on  the 
fouth,  by  Northborough  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by 
Boylfton  and  Lancafter. 


G     A      R     D     N     E     R. 

CrARDNER  is  a  town  which  was 
taken  from  the  towns  of  Weftminfter,  Templeton, 
Winchendon  and  Amburnham,  and  is  accordingly 
bounded  by  them,  in  the  following  manner ;  by 
Weftminfter,  on  the  fouth  and  foutheaft ;  by  Tem 
pleton,  on  the  fouthweft  and  weft  ;  by  Winchen 
don,  on  the  north  and  northweft  ;  and  by  Afhburn- 
ham  on  the  northeaft. 

It  was  incorporated,   and  made  a  diftinft  town 
on  the  2/th  of  June,  1785.     It  is  not  large  in  ex 
tent, 


GARDNER.  307 

tent,  its  contents  being  about  14000  acres,  but  yet 
capable  of  making  a  good  and  wealthy  town  ;  hav-. 
ing  already  85  dwelling  houfes,  and  530  inhabi 
tants,  according  to  the  late  cenfus. 

The  church  in  Gardner  was  gathered  on  the  ift 
of  February,  1786,  and  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Ofgood 
was  ordained  as  paftor  thereof,  O&ober  igth,  1791. 

This  town  was  called  Gardner  to  perpetuate  the 
name  and  memory  of  the  late  famous  Col.  Thom 
as  Gardner  of  Cambridge,  near  Bofton,  who  was 
killed  in  the  memorable  battle  upon  Bunker's  Hill, 
in  Charleflown,  on  the  i7thof  June  1775,  gallantly 
fighting  in  defence  of  the  liberty  and  rights  of  his 
country. 

The  general  face  of  this  town  is  uneven,  abound 
ing  in  fmall  hills  and  valleys  ;  and  though  the 
land  be  fomewhat  rocky,  yet  not  in  general,  too 
much  fo  ;  the  foil  is  good,  rich,  ftrong  and  fertile. 
It  produces  wheat,  rye,  Indian  corn,  barley,  oats, 
flax,  &c.  &c.  It  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  grafs 
and  pafturage,  being  naturally  moifl  and  abound 
ing  in  fprings,  rivulets,  ftreams,  brooks  and  rivers, 
whereby  they  can  water  the  lands  at  pleafure. 

There  is  one  river,  called  Otter  River,*  running 
from  the  fouth  to  the  north  ;  coming  from  Hub- 
bardfton,  through  a  part  of  Templeton  to  Gardner, 
it  is  fome  way  a  boundary  between  Gardner  and 
Templeton,  and,  in  Winchendon,  falls  into  Miller's 
River.  There  are  feveral  brooks  and  ftreams,  with 
out  names,  except  two;  thefe  are  called  Pen  Brook, 
and  Spectacle  Brook  ;  all  the  waters  run  north- 

erly 

•*  See  this  riyer  morr  particularly  defcribed  in  the  account  of  Templeton, 


3o8         BOYLSTON. 

erly  and  northwefterly,  and  are  finally  emptied  in 
to  Conne&icut  river.  Upon  thefe  feveral  dreams, 
and  the  river  beforenamed,  there  are  confiderable 
bodies  of  good  meadow  land  ;  and  a  number  of 
faw  and  grift  mills  ;  but  no  other  water  works  at 
prefent.  There  are  two  large  and  fine  ponds  in  the 
town,  but  without  names  ;  thefe  have,  each  of 
them,  fmall  ftreams  running  from  them.  They 
have  here  the  ufual  artificers  and  traders  ;  and 
here  alfo  are  potafh  works.  The  general  growth 
of  wood  in  this  place,  is  fimilar  to  that  of  other 
new  places  of  like  kinds  of  lands,  both  high  and 
low,  as  oak  of  feveral  forts,  birch,  rock  maple, 
white  and  red  am,  hemlock,  white  pine,  and  hacma- 
tack.  There  are  two  county  roads  leading  through 
the  town  ;  the  principal  one,  is  that  which  leads 
from  Connecticut  river,  through  Peterfham,  Ger 
ry  and  Templeton,  on  to  Bofton.  This  sown  lies 
fixty  miles  from  Bofton,  northwefterly  ;  and  twen 
ty  fix  miles  from  Worcefter  courthoufe,  to  the 
north. 


BOYLSTON. 

1HIS  was  included  in  the  original 
grant  of  the  townfhip  of  Shrewibury  :  It  was  made 
a  parifh,  by  aft  of  the  Legislature,  December  iyth, 
1742,  and  was  thenceforward  called  the  fecond 

precinft, 


B    O    Y    L    S    T    O    N.         309 

precinct,  or  north  parifh  in  Shrewfbury,  until 
March  i ft,  1786,  when  it  was  incorporated  and 
made  a  diftincl:  town,  and  had  the  name  of  Boylf- 
ton  given  to  it,  in  honour  of  the  rich  and  generous 
family  of  Boylfton,  two  of  whom  in  fucceffion, 
were  great  and  eminent  Phyficians  ;  another  not 
long  fince,  founded  a  profefiformip  of  rhetorick  and 
oratory  in  Harvard  Univerfity. 

This  town  is  not  a  very  large  tracl:  of  land  ;  and 
it  does  not  lie  in  the  moft  regular  form  ;  it  contains 
14396  acres  by  furvey,  not  being  five  miles  fquare. 

It  is  bounded  by  Shrewfbury  on  the  fouth  ;  by 
Worcefter,  on  the  fouthweft  ;  by  Holden  and 
Sterling,  on  the  weft  and  northweft  ;  by  Lancafter 
on  the  north  ;  and  by  Berlin  and  Northborough, 
on  the  eaft.  It  is  fituated  almoft  weft  from  Bof- 
ton,  at  the  diftanceof  forty  three  miles  ;  and  from 
the  courthoufe  in  Worcefter  it  is  eight  miles. 

The  church  of  Chrift  in  this  place  was  imbodied 
on  the  6th  day  of  October,  1743,  and  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Morfe  was  invefted  with  the  paftoral  of* 
fice  therein,  on  the  26th  of  the  fame  month  and 
year.  He  continued  until  the  loth  of  November, 
1775,  when  he  was  difrniffed,  more  efpecially  on 
account  of  his  political  fentiments  refpe6ling  the 
controverfy  between  Greatbritain  and  America. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Morfe,  was  from  the  firft,  a  (kilful 
and  eminent  phyfician,  and  is  ftill  employed  in 
that  bufinefs.  Mr.  Morfe  was  fucceeded,  as  paf- 
tor  of  the  church  and  congregation  in  Boylfton, 
by  the  Rev.  Eleazer  Fairbank,  who  was  ordained 
on  the  2jth  of  March,  1777;  and  continued  their 

paftor 


3io          B     O     Y     L    S    T     O     N. 

paftor  until  April  23d,  1793,  when  at  his  eameft 
defire  and  requeft,  the  church  and  congregation 
confented  to  his  difmiffion,  in  the  prefence,  and 
under  the  direction  of  a  mutual  council.  Mr. 
Fairbank  was  inftalled  paftor  of  the  church  and 
congregation  of  Wilmington  in  the  State  of  Ver 
mont,  September  nth,  1793. 

We  (hall  now  attempt  fome  description  of  the 
town  of  Boy  HI  on. 

It  lies  in  general,  high,  defcending  to  the  north, 
and  northeaft  ;  but  the  land  is  not  fo  high  in  the 
middle,  and  round  about  the  meetinghoufe,  as  it 
is  on  the  eafl,  fouth  and  weft.  It  is  rather  hilly, 
rough  and  uneven;  although  there  are  fome  con- 
fiderable  plains,  covered  with  pitch  pine.  The 
hills  on  the  eaft  fide,  adjoining  to  Northborough, 
are  large  and  high,  and  pretty  fteep  where  the  road 
palfes  ;  and  although  there  is  confiderable  broken 
land  in  the  town,  yet  none  but  what  is  good  for, 
and  well  covered  with  wood,  of  which  there  is  a 
plenty.  The  wood  which  grows  on  the  high  and 
hard  land,  is  of  all  the  forts  of  oak,  fome  walnut, 
plenty  of  chefnut,  fome  faflafras  ;  in  the  fwamps 
and  fwales,  grow  fome  afh,  birch,  maple,  fpruce, 
juniper,  fome  white  pine  and  fome  hemlock.  The 
prickly  afh  alfo,  is  a  native  of  this  place  ;  it  is  a 
bufti  or  fhrub,  feldom  growing  more  than  fix  or 
feven  feet  in  height  ;  though  it  grows  in  moifi, 
yet  not  in  cold  land ;  it  poflefles  fome  fingular  qual 
ities  and  virtues,  and  its  bark  and  feeds  are  highly 
elkemed,  and  much  ufed,  by  Phyficians. 

The 


B     O     Y     L     S    T     O    N.          3it 

The  foil  in  this  town  is  generally  good,  rich  and 
fertile.  There  are  good  arable  lands  ;  but  it  is 
very  excellent  for  orcharding,  for  pafturage  and 
grafs  ;  and  here  are  fome  of  as  large  and  good 
farmers,  as  perhaps  any  where  in  the  county,  who 
keep  great  flocks  of  cattle.  The  people  raife  all 
kinds  of  country  produce,  efpecially  beef,  pork, 
grain,  butter  and  cheefe,  vaftly  more  than  they 
confume,  and  carry  more  into  the  market,  than 
perhaps,  *any  other  town  of  its  bignefs  and  number. 
The  town  enjoys  a  fine  healthy  air,  and  the  place  has 
been  famed  for  the  longevity  of  its  inhabitants. 
There  are  really  no  ftagnant  waters.  There  are 
two  ponds,  but  the  waters  are  kept  in  motion  by  a 
current,  in  confequence  of  inlets  and  outlets. 
Rocky  Pond,  fo  denominated  from  its  general 
ftony  bottom,  and  more  flony  more,  is  iituated 
in  the  eafterly  part  of  the  town  from  whence  there 
is  an  outlet  at  the  fouth  end,  into  Cold  Harbour 
Brook,  and  fo  into  the  river  Affabet,  in  Northbor- 
ough.  This  is.  a  fine  pond  for  all  kinds  of  fmall 
fifti,  efpecially  pickerel.  It  covers  about  thirty 
fix  acres  of  ground  as  appears  from  a&ual  furvey  ; 
and  by  the  dam  at  the  fouth  end,  the  pond  is  raif- 
ed  fo  as  to  cover  thirty  acres  of  meadow.  Sewall's 
Pond,  fo  denominated  from  a  family  of  that  name, 
who  owned  the  lands  round  it,  lies  in  the  fouth- 
weft  part  of  Boylfton,  towards  Worcefler.  This 
is  large,  covering  a  hundred  acres  of  land  perhaps, 
or  more.  It  is  well  fupplied  with  all  kinds  of 
pond  fifli  ;  there  are  two  rivulets,  from  fprings 
which  run  into  it,  from  the  north  and  northeaft  ; 

and 


3i2          B     O    Y    L    S    T    O    N. 

rmd  at  the  fouth  is  the  large  outlet,  which  crofting 
the  roads  to  Rutland  and  Worcefter,  in  Shrewfbu- 
ry,  falls  into  Ouinfigamond,  or  Long  Pond.  There 
are  three  fmall  brooks  in  the  town,  which  originat 
ing  from  fprings  in   Boylfton,   run    northerly  into 
the  fouth  branch  of  the  river  Nafhaway.     Gates's 
Brook  empties  into  the  river  in  the  weft  part  of  the 
town, nearto  Major Bcaman's.  MuddyBrook  empties 
in  about  a  mile  weft  of  the  meetinghoufe.     On  this 
brook  there  is  a  law  mill,  and  a  body  of  meadow. 
Mill  Brook,  on  which  there  is  alfo  a  fa  w  mill .  riles  and 
falls  into  the  river  in  the  eafterly  part.     The  great 
fouth  branch  of  the  river   Namaway  runs  through 
Boylfton  from  the  norihwcft,  and  palling  foutheaft- 
erly,  till  it  comes  within  about  a  mile  of  the  meet 
inghoufe,  then    turns   and  runs  northeafterly.  into 
Lancafter.     This  river  is  formed  by  the  junction 
of  two  large  dreams  or  rivers.     One  comes  from 
the  eaft  fide  of  Watchufett  mountain,  and  pafling 
through  the  foutherly  part  of  Sterling,  and  called 
Still  Water  River,  is,  on  the  road  at  the  bridge,  the 
boundary  between  Sterling  and  Boylfton,  and  run 
ning  fouthra  fieri  y   about   a  mile  in    Boylfton,  is 
joined  by  Ouinepoxet  Stream,    fo  called    :    Thii 
runs  from  a  pond,  called  Quinepoxet  on  the  fouth 
fide  of  Princeton,  partly  in  Holden,  and  running 
fourhcaft   in    Holden   about  two  miles,   turns  and 
runs  northeaft,   until  it  joins  Still  Water,   on  the 
weft  fide  of  Boylfton.      After   the  confluence  of 
thefe  ftreams,  there  are  four  large  bridges,  on  the 
river   within   Boylfton  ;    two  of   them  are   good, 
handfcme,  ftroug  and  well   conftrucled.     On   the 

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VALUATION    LISTS. 


THE  hiftory  of  the  County  fhall  be 
clofed  with  preferring  the  five  laft  Valuations, 
whereby  the  reader  may  behold  each  town  in  a 
comparative  view.  The  towns  are  arranged  accord 
ing  to  the  proportion  they  paid  to  a  tax  of  a  thou- 
fand  pounds  upon  the  whole  State. 

VALUATION  for  1772. 


Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

Townt.             On  the  thouf. 

£.  s.    d.q. 

£.  s.    d.  q. 

Lancaster, 

7  19     21 

Weftern,                   2   13     83 

Brookfield, 

7  '3     *  3 

Newbraintree,         2    10     9   i 

Sutton, 

7  12     i  3 

Dudley,                    2983 

Worcefter, 

6783 

Weftminfter,           2910 

Mendon, 

5  '8     i  3 

Spencer,                   2     8  10  i 

Shrewfbury, 

5    7  10  i 

Holden,                     2070 

Hardwick, 

45ii 

Northborough,            19     30 

Lunenburg, 

3  l8    9  3 

Templeton,                   18     90 

Harvard, 

3  '7     4  ' 

Princeton,                      16     4  O 

Uxbridge, 

3  16    6  3 

Douglafs,                      13     53 

Bolton, 

3  14     2  o 

Paxton,                          12     23 

Rutland, 

3  '3     7  3 

Athol,                            ii     8   i 

Sturbridge, 

3943 

Upton,                            iO     5  0 

Barre, 

3473 

Fitchburg,                    6  i°  3 

Leominfter, 

2   18     30 

Oakham,                          230 

Weftborough, 

2     l8       I     I 

Afhburnham,           O  17     51 

Pcterfham, 

2  17     9  i 

Winchendon,          O  14     4   i 

Grafton, 

2  17    3  o 

Hubbardfton,          O  12     93 

Southborough, 

2    l6    11    O 

Royalfton,               O  12     43 

Leicefter, 

2    ID       21 

Charlton, 

2  15    6  3 

41   Towns.  ]££  £-*z5   14     2  * 

Oxford, 

2    15       2    1 

VALUATION 

VALUATION     LISTS 

•      337 

V 

ALUATION/cr   1778. 

Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

Towns*            On 

the  thouf. 

£.  s.    d. 

£.  s.    d. 

Brookfield, 

7  '5    ° 

Templeton, 

2  13    6 

Lancafter, 

784 

Weftern, 

2    It      O 

Worcefter, 

77° 

Oxford, 

280 

Sutton, 

760 

Dudley, 

280 

Mendon, 

5  17    o 

Athol, 

230 

Shrewfbury, 

550 

Princeton, 

2       I      O 

Barre, 

430 

Holden, 

2      O      O 

Hardwick, 

400 

Fitchburg, 

200 

Harvard, 

3  14    6 

Paxton, 

2      O      O 

Charlton, 

3  13    6 

Leicefter, 

I    l8      0 

Bolton, 

3  10    6 

Northborough, 

1    17     O 

Lunenburg, 

3  10    © 

Royalfton, 

16     i 

Rutland, 

39° 

Upton, 

II      0 

Sturbridge, 

390 

Douglafs, 

10    6 

Uxbridge, 

-     3    6    6 

Winchendon, 

9    ° 

Peterfham, 

320 

Oak  ham, 

8    6 

Leominfter, 

300 

Hubbardfton, 

8    6 

Spencer, 

3    o    o 

Afhburnham, 

6    o 

Weftborough, 

2  16    7 

Ward, 

3    5 

Grafton, 

2  '5     3 

Northbridge, 

0     O 

Newbraintree, 

2    15      0 

Southborough, 

2    14      O 

43   Towns.       ™*£ 

133  J3    2 

Weftminfter, 

2  13    6 

V 

ALUATION    for    1782. 

Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

Towns.             On  the  thouf. 

£.   s.   d. 

£.  s.  d. 

Brookfield, 

850 

Weftminfter, 

346 

Sutton, 

7  19    o 

Templeton, 

300 

Shrewfbury, 

656 

Weftborough, 

2  19    9 

Worcefter, 

5  13  10 

Leicefter, 

2    17      O 

Hardwick, 

4  19    o 

Leominfter, 

2    17      O 

Barre, 

4  18     i 

Weftern, 

2    15      0 

Peterfham, 

4     i  10 

Princeton, 

2    15      0 

Sturbridge, 

400 

Southborough, 

2    14      O 

Lancafter, 

3   17  ii 

Athol, 

2  I3    4 

Sterling, 

3  '7    9 

Dudley, 

2    13      0 

Charlton, 

3  16    4 

Milford, 

2    13      0 

Harvard, 

3  '5     * 

Holden, 

2    12      4 

Rutland, 

3  14    6 

Oxford, 

2    12       3 

Bolton, 

3  14    2 

Grafton 

2     10      5 

Spencer, 

3  '3  I0 

Fitchburg, 

2    7    5 

Mendon, 

3  12     6 

Newbraintree, 

265 

Uxbridge, 

375 

Upton, 

260 

Lunenburg, 

360 

Douglafs, 

2       I      O 

t 

Northborough, 


VALUATION    LISTS, 


Towns. 

On 

the  thouf. 

Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

£.  s.  d. 

£.'.    d. 

Northborough, 

zoo 

Afhburnham, 

I    IO      O 

Paxton, 

18    7 

Oakham, 

i     8    o 

Hubbardfton, 

16    o 

Northbridge, 

i     8    o 

Ward, 

16    o 

Royal  fton, 

Winchendon, 

J5     5 

12      6 

45  Towns.     XSJ    £146     4     9 

V 

A  L  U  A  T  I  O  N    for    1786. 

Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

Towns. 

On  the  thouf. 

£.  s.     d.q. 

£.   s.     d.q. 

Brookfield, 

7  '7    5  * 

Weftern, 

2920 

Sutton, 

7290 

Bolton, 

2853 

Worcefter, 

5  *5     60 

Milford, 

2850 

Shrewfbury, 

5  14     9  ° 

Holden, 

2800 

Barre, 

4  13     8  3 

Dudley, 

2      7    lO  O 

Hardwick, 

4770 

Southborough,        2520 

Sterling, 

3  16    8  3 

Oxford, 

2       4IIO 

Charlton, 

3  J5    5  ° 

Newbraintree, 

247° 

Peterfham, 

3  M    3  o 

Fitchburg, 

2451 

Lancafter, 

3  '3    3  ° 

Athol, 

2280 

Sturbridge, 

3    12    II    O 

Winchendon, 

2       I      O  O 

Rutland, 

3   n     9  o 

Upton, 

2O6l 

Mendon, 

3   ii     80 

Douglafs, 

19    o  o 

Spencer, 

3820 

Northborough, 

15    9  ° 

Lunenburg, 

3    6    4  * 

Royal  fton, 

I5      0  0 

Harvard, 

3     6     *  3 

Paxton, 

14    II    O 

Uxbridge, 

3     5     6  ° 

Hubbardfton, 

'4    3  i 

Weftminfter, 

3400 

Afhburnham, 

13     i  o 

Leicefter, 

2    19    IO  O 

Oakham, 

13    o  o 

Templeton, 

2  18    30 

Ward, 

8     i  o 

We  (thorough, 

2  13  n    i 

Berlin, 

523 

Leominfter, 

2    12      92 

Northbridge, 

200 

C"vT~;i  ftnn 

212      O   O 

***  1  «i  lv/11, 

Princeton, 

2    II       6O 

46  Towns.     1 

?m!^!38    °      °    2 

V  A 

L  U  A  T  1  0  N  for  1793. 

Towns. 

On  the  tho. 

Towns. 

On  the  tho. 

Polls. 

£.s.    d.q. 

Polls. 

£.  s.  d.  q. 

Brookfield, 

675 

6  «3     4  3 

I.ancailer, 

356 

335° 

Worcefter, 

54° 

6832 

Rutland, 

298 

3     2     3  * 

Sutton, 

660 

5  18    6  3 

Mendon, 

3*8 

323° 

Barre, 

466 

Harvard, 

359 

Peterfham, 

39° 

3  16     oo 

Spencer, 

349 

3171 

Sturbridge, 

454 

3  15  10  2 

Uxbridge, 

306 

3020 

Charlton, 

385 

3  »3     4  3 

Weitminfter, 

3-8 

2    14      8l 

Hardwicli, 

399 

3933 

Leicefter, 

262 

a  n   1  1    i 

Steiling, 

364 

3661 

Shrewfbury, 

252 

211   10  3 

frinccton, 

245 

3    4     »  3 

Lunenburg, 

273 

2    IO    IO   O 

Lcominfter, 


VALUATION    LISTS. 


339 


Towns, 

Onthetho. 

Towns, 

Onthetho. 

Potts. 

£.  s.    d.q. 

Polls. 

£.S.     d.q. 

Leominfter, 

313 

2     1O    10    I 

Southborough, 

184 

1    16      70 

Weftborough, 

225 

2920 

Douglafs, 

248 

1  J5    9  ° 

Grafton, 

237 

2833 

Athol, 

206 

14    7  o 

Holden, 

254 

2782 

Upton, 

211 

13    9  2 

Boylfton, 

219 

2453 

Northborough, 

156 

12      6   2 

Weftern, 

229 

2423 

Gerry, 

J77 

12     5  3 

Newbraintree, 

szg 

2402 

Paxton, 

133 

922 

Templeton, 

241 

2     3     5  2 

Afhburnham, 

226 

900 

Bolton, 

220 

2141 

1  Oakham, 

204 

853 

Dudley, 

248 

2*50 

j  Ward, 

"9 

680 

Fitchburg, 

268 

2    o    a  i 

Gardner, 

135 

280 

Wir»chendon, 

234 

i  19  11  2 

Berlin, 

127 

263 

Oxford, 
Milford 

265 
l8d 

i  19  11  i 

111      T  T      T 

Northbridge, 

"3 

o  18    50 

Hubbardfton, 

219 

*.  f      1  J       1 

i   17     4  o 

49  Towns. 

13762 

£127502 

Jioyalfton, 

263 

i  16    9  o 

;! 


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